Department for Transport

Department for Transport: ICT

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department holds a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.

Mr John Hayes: The Department for Transport’s arm’s-length bodies are: Network RailBritish Transport PoliceHighways EnglandHS2 Ltd We can confirm that we do not hold a central list of their IT and digital assets.

Diesel Trains: Exhaust Emissions

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce pollution from diesel locomotives used for freight services.

Paul Maynard: The Department for Transport (DfT) has been working closely with the railway industry to reduce emissions from diesel trains, including freight services. All new diesel trains are fitted with engines that meet stringent emission limits set by the EU Non-road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) directive. As older rolling stock comes to the end of its working life, new engines are now being introduced that are fully compliant with these standards.

Bristol-Oxford Railway Line

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of reintroducing passenger services between Oxford and Bristol; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Maynard: The key issue for a new direct train service between Oxford and Bristol is the lack of spare track capacity. Enhancements to the route to enable additional train services would need to be considered alongside other rail infrastructure upgrades in England and Wales. On 12 October 2017 the Transport Secretary set out the final Statement of Funds Available for the railway in England and Wales for Control Period 6, which covers the years 2019 to 2024. The Department needs to ensure investment best addresses the needs of passengers and freight, and that funding commitments appropriately reflect the stage of development of those enhancements. This is why there will be a new process for enhancements, building on the principles set out in the ‘Memorandum of Understanding between Department for Transport and Network Rail on rail enhancements’ last year. We’ll set out more information on this new process shortly.

Railways: Oxford

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase (a) capacity and (b) value for money for passengers on Cross Country services to and from Oxford.

Paul Maynard: The Department is beginning its work on the specification and procurement of the next Cross Country franchise which is due to begin in 2019. Improving capacity and value for money will be high on the list of priorities for the next franchisee.

Roads: Rural Areas

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made in increasing safety on rural roads in the last five years.

Jesse Norman: The Government’s priorities for improving road safety are set out in the British Road Safety Statement. We intend to publish a progress report towards the end of this year. Funding is being made available through the £175million Safer Roads Fund to improve the safety of the most dangerous local A-roads in England. The THINK! Country roads campaign targets improving safety on rural roads. Casualties on rural roads in 2016 were 6% lower than in 2012.

British Transport Police: Scotland

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken with the Scottish Government to assess the effect on railway policing across the border between Scotland and England of the planned integration of British Transport Police in Scotland into Police Scotland.

Paul Maynard: The UK and Scottish Governments are working together with the two police forces and police authorities through a Joint Programme Board. A central, ongoing focus of that Board is to deliver an orderly transfer of responsibilities and to ensure that the overall level of policing remains seamless and fully effective, including policing across the border.

Monarch Airlines: Insolvency

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to assist former employees of Monarch Airlines since its collapse.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government has taken to help former Monarch Airlines employees who did not receive redundancy payments.

Mr John Hayes: We have been working across government to ensure the almost 2,000 former Monarch employees receive the support they need. I am pleased that other airlines are already appealing to Monarch’s former employees. For instance, Virgin Atlantic are offering a fast track recruitment process for cabin crew and pilots, and easyJet have invited applications for 500 cabin crew vacancies and for direct-entry Captains or First Officers who meet Captain qualifications. The Job Centre’s Rapid Response Service is also helping employees make the transition into new roles with tailored support. All former Monarch employees will have received information from Jobcentre Plus outlining the support available to them. In total, Jobcentre Plus has pulled together a list of more than 6,300 vacancies across the major UK based airlines, which will help former Monarch employees remain in the airline industry. There are also special arrangements for employees who are owed redundancy payments following the insolvency of their employer. The Redundancy Payments Service in the Insolvency Service can pay statutory amounts owed to the former employees from the National Insurance Fund. This may include redundancy pay, notice pay and pension contributions. Information on how to claim any money owed can be found on www.gov.uk or by contacting the Insolvency Service on 0330 331 0020.

Monarch Airlines: Insolvency

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the involvement was of Monarch Airlines crew in repatriating UK passengers after the collapse of the airline.

Mr John Hayes: I am not aware of any direct involvement from Monarch Airlines flight crew in repatriating passengers after the collapse of the airline.

Humber Bridge: Tolls

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to (a) reduce and (b) abolish fees for customers on the Humber Bridge; and if he will make a statement.

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to the public purse would be of abolishing fees on the Humber Bridge.

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the Government introduced fees on the Humber Bridge; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: The tolls on the Humber Bridge were introduced to help pay for the costs of constructing the Bridge, which opened in 1981. Construction was financed through a loan from the Government of the day. In 2012, the present Government wrote off £150m of the £332m debt In order to reduce tolls and encourage use of the Bridge. Since then, the number of vehicles using the Bridge has increased significantly. In 2015, the Humber Bridge Board refinanced the remaining debt of £172m with a Public Works Board Loan. The Government has not made an estimate of the costs of abolishing tolls on the Humber Bridge, since the operation and financing of the remaining debt of the Humber Bridge is the responsibility for the Board and its constituent authorities.

Lifeboats

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which areas of the UK coastline have no lifeboat coverage within a one hour journey time.

Mr John Hayes: Lifeboat provision in the UK is delivered by independent charitable organisations who declare their lifeboats available to Her Majesty’s Coastguard (HMCG). It is the responsibility of those organisations to decide on the specific operational capacity it considers appropriate based on factors such as coastal activity and the availability and suitability of other declared rescue assets covering that area. Search and rescue (SAR) response in the United Kingdom relies on a matrix of resources including SAR helicopters, lifeboats, community-based Coastguard Rescue Teams, commercial shipping, fishing and other vessels in the vicinity of an incident, and potentially other emergency services. In coordinating a response to any incident, HMCG will consider the range of resources available to them, on an incident by-incident basis, before tasking the most appropriate asset.

Department for Transport: Telephone Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of his Department's public phone-lines charge members of the public to call.

Mr John Hayes: The Department, including its Agencies, has 3,187 public phone-lines. The vast majority of these lines are for the general public to make enquiries at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (more than 40 numbers using over 1500 lines) and at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (for example at driving test centres). Fewer than 1% of those phone lines are free to the caller (via an 0800 number). However, the charges otherwise paid by the caller from a landline will in virtually all cases be at the standard or local rate. Whilst the DVLA publicise two premium rate numbers which the general public can call for translation services, this means that apart from those the Department including its Agencies makes no income from their phone lines for the general public to call. Charges may be different for a mobile phone depending upon the rate that the relevant network operator imposes, though many people have a free calls allowance as part of their mobile phone package.

Volkswagen

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with representatives of Volkswagen on the timetable for the completion of the required emissions and technological repair work for affected vehicles in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the UK.

Jesse Norman: Ministers have pressed Volkswagen to apply the technical fix to vehicles in the UK (including Northern Ireland) as quickly as possible and to make it as easy as possible for owners to have this work completed. Officials meet monthly with the company to discuss their progress. Volkswagen have now applied the technical measure to around 800,000 of the 1.2m affected vehicles.

Home Office

Asylum: Glasgow South West

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers are resident in Glasgow South West constituency.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office publishes quarterly figures on the number of asylum seekers housed in dispersed accommodation, including under Section 95, by local authority in the Immigration Statistics release, in table as_16q and 17q in volume 4 of the Asylum data tables. These are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2017/how-many-people-do-we-grant-asylum-or-protection-toFigures on the number of those accommodated under Section 95 by constituency could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Asylum: Scotland

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with (a) the Scottish Government and (b) Glasgow City Council to ensure that contractors of asylum seeker services comply with the provisions of housing legislation in Scotland.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office and our asylum accommodation provider in Scotland are in regular contact with representatives from the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council on accommodation standards through forums such as the Scottish Asylum Dispersal Strategy Group, Asylum Stakeholders Forum and the Scottish Asylum Procurement Group.In Glasgow, all new property procurement proposals are individually considered by the Local Authority.

Homelessness: EU Nationals

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many homeless EU citizens have been offered voluntary assisted return in each of the last five years.

Brandon Lewis: Please find attached a link to the published statistics on the take up of voluntary returns over the period requested, including by EU nationals:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/638602/returns1-apr-jun-2017-tables.odsThe Home Office does not hold data on whether individuals were rough sleepers in a reportable format. Such information could not be retrieved except by a manual inspection of every applicable personal record. This is likely to incur costs over the cost threshold.

Homelessness: EU Nationals

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many homeless EU citizens have been arrested and deported in each (a) month since January and (b) nation of the UK.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office does not hold the information you have requested in a reportable format. The Government publishes Immigration Statistics which details the number of enforced returns of EU citizens to June 2017.This can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2017/how-many-people-are-detained-or-returned#enforced-returns-of-eu-nationals

Passports: Gender

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to introduce non-gender X passports in the UK for people who do not identify with a particular gender.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office is currently subject to a Judicial Review to introduce an alternative (X) ‘gender’ marking in the British passport for those who do not feel represented by the current ‘M’ (Male) or ‘F’ (Female) markings.We are reflecting on the issues brought forward by the Judicial Review, and it would not be appropriate to comment on this issue at present.

Visas: Overseas Students

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was accrued to the public purse from charging international students applying for Tier 4 student visas in each year since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: Visa income is not differentiated between the various categories in which they are received.Visa volumes by broad category (study, work etc) are published in the data section of this webpage: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-january-to-march-2017/why-do-people-come-to-the-uk-3-to-study#data-tablesFees and unit costs are also published, for example, for 2017/18:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/606616/Unit_cost_table_2017.pdf

Immigration: EU Nationals

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many additional staff her Department plans to (a) recruit and (b) contract to manage the transition of non-UK EU nationals to settled status.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office constantly reviews its capabilities and resources in order to deliver the priorities of the Government. The Department responded quickly to the challenges following the EU referendum last June.Negotiations are continuing with our EU partners and we will update and finalise our plans on the workforce and capabilities required to manage the transition of non-UK EU nationals to settled status in due course.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Antarctic: Snow and Ice

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department holds on ice reduction in the Antarctic in the last five years.

Joseph Johnson: Information on changes in Antarctic ice is held by British Antarctic Survey, which includes datasets collected using satellite techniques, airborne and in situ radar methods, ice drilling, seismic measurements and GPS (Global Positioning Systems).I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18th September to Question 9992.

Cosmetics: Animal Experiments

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on the regulation of cosmetic products that have been tested on animals in the event that the UK leaves the EU.

Margot James: The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will convert directly applicable EU law into UK law, including the marketing ban on cosmetic products or their ingredients, which have been tested on animals.

Energy: Housing

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2017 to Question 108862, on energy: housing, when he plans to (a) review the best support for home energy efficiency beyond 2022, (b) consult on raising EPC standards and (c) publish recommendations made by the Green Finance Taskforce.

Claire Perry: The Government will be consulting on the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) from 2018 to 2022 next year and will, in parallel, be considering the best forms of support for home energy efficiency over the longer term for subsequent consultation. With respect to raising EPC standards, the Government will look at a long term trajectory for energy performance standards across the private rented sector, with the aim of as many private rented homes as possible being upgraded to EPC Band C by 2030. We will consider options with a view to consulting in 2018. In addition, the Government is looking at how social housing can meet similar standards on the same timetable. When looking at this the Government will need to take account of the findings of the independent public inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower and the Government’s separate work looking at wider social housing policy issues. Finally, the Green Finance Taskforce is an industry-led group. Members have agreed to submit their final recommendations to Government by spring 2018.

Peat: Carbon Emissions

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress the Government is making on implementing the recommendations of the Committee on Climate Change report Meeting Carbon Budgets - 2016 Progress Report to Parliament, published in June 2016, on including peatland within the UK's carbon inventory by 2018.

Claire Perry: The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) have identified a number of improvements to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory. They particularly encouraged the inclusion of new guidelines on wetlands (which cover peatlands) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change1 to fully assess their impacts. Further research is required before these guidelines can be fully applied in our national GHG inventory. This is currently underway and will feed into the inventory over the next few years. [1] IPCC 2014, 2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/wetlands/

Foreign Companies: Trade Competitiveness

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with foreign-owned businesses on maintaining the competitiveness of their UK operations after the UK leaves the EU.

Margot James: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his Ministerial team regularly meet UK owned, and UK operations of foreign owned multi-national businesses. Engagement with businesses covers the whole aspect of BEIS responsibilities. This includes detailed discussions on developing our industrial strategy that will ensure the UK continues to be an attractive place for foreign owned businesses to invest; and improve the productivity and competitiveness of all businesses operating in the UK.Details of meetings are made public; the latest publication was on 13 October 2017 covering the period between April and June 2017. It can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beis-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-april-to-june-2017.

Customs

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect on businesses close to major ports of customs delays after the UK leaves the EU.

Margot James: The Department has engaged with over 500 businesses across the UK to understand the potential impacts of customs delays. We will continue to work closely with business.This is a complex issue which could affect a wide range of sectors. We are working with the Department for Exiting the EU and the Treasury to reflect business concerns, minimise disruption and maximise certainty.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Brexit

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's preparations for the UK leaving the EU with (a) an agreement on future partnership and (b) no agreement with the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: The Government is fully committed to negotiating a deep and special partnership with the European Union. The Department is preparing for future trade negotiations by building capability and resource, and is developing positions for a range of negotiating scenarios in order to minimise disruption for UK businesses and avoid the introduction of new regulatory barriers.

Aerospace Industry

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to strengthen and promote the British aerospace industry.

Richard Harrington: The UK has the second largest aerospace industry globally, with strengths in some of the most technologically advanced parts of aircraft: wings, engines and advanced systems. The industry has annual turnover of around £32 billion, and exports some £30 billion.Through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, Government is supporting action by industry to make sure the UK remains competitive, including a joint Industry/Government commitment of £3.9 billion for Research and Development activities through to 2026.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Bahrain: Prisoners

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Bahrain on the trial and sentencing of Mansoor Hassan, Sayed Nizar Alwadei and Mahmood Marzooq.

Alistair Burt: ​These cases have been raised at a senior level with the Government of Bahrain. We understand there is now a right of appeal through the Bahraini judicial system. The UK will continue to closely monitor proceedings.

Israel: Immigration Controls

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of Israel's border restrictions and permit system on urgent medical care for patients in the West Bank and Gaza.

Alistair Burt: While we have not raised this specific issue, we have consistently called on the Israeli Government to ease movement and access restrictions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We are supporting the UN Access Coordination Unit who work with the Israeli Government, Palestinian Authority and aid agencies to facilitate the transfer of humanitarian goods including medical equipment and supplies.

Sudan: Human Rights

Sir Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assurance he has received from the Government of Sudan on the protection of civil society activists during the round of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue on 16 October 2017.

Rory Stewart: Sudan remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, and civil society and freedom of expression are among our key human rights concerns.We used the fourth round of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue on 16 October to agree steps that the Government of Sudan would take to make further progress on human rights issues, including civil society and freedom of expression, particularly in the run up to elections in 2020.

Sudan: Foreign Relations

Sir Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department plans to publish a public document outlining the progress made during the round of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue on 16 October 2017.

Rory Stewart: ​A communiqué outlining the progress made during the fourth round of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue was published on 1 November, and is now available on the UK Government’s website.

Sudan: Migration

Sir Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the creation of safe, legal migration pathways for Sudanese migrants was discussed in the round of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue on 16 October 2017.

Rory Stewart: The creation of safe, legal migration pathways for Sudanese migrants was not a topic of discussion at the fourth round of the Strategic Dialogue on 16 October.

Israel: Visas

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October to Question 10164, what the Government's position on Israel's 27th amendment to its Entry into Israel Law.

Alistair Burt: ​It is for Israel to decide its immigration policy. We have updated our Travel Advice recommending that concerned UK nationals contact the Israeli Embassy for further information.

Palestinians: Human Rights

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Balfour declaration in protecting the civil and religious right of non-Jewish communities in Palestine.

Alistair Burt: ​While we are proud that the UK played a role in helping to make a Jewish homeland a reality, we also understand and respect the sensitivities many have about the Balfour Declaration. Balfour remains unfinished business. That is why we are committed to ensuring that the whole of Balfour is fulfilled, through a two-state solution which provides security and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians. Our focus now is on encouraging the parties to take steps which bring them closer to peace.

Department for Exiting the European Union

EU Grants and Loans

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the future of projects funded by the European Social Fund for which that funding is due to end in March 2018.

Mr Robin Walker: The Department for Exiting the European Union is working with departments across government, including the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to ensure that people and businesses have stability and certainty in the period leading up to our departure in March 2019, and that we use the opportunities that our EU Exit presents to determine our own priorities. The government has guaranteed funding for all European Structural and Investment Fund projects signed before we leave the EU – provided they are value for money and in line with domestic priorities.

EU Grants and Loans

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the future of projects funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds for which that funding is due to end in March 2018.

Mr Robin Walker: The Department for Exiting the European Union is working with departments across government, including the Department for Work and Pensions, to ensure that people and businesses have stability and certainty in the period leading up to our departure in March 2019, and that we use the opportunities that our EU Exit presents to determine our own priorities. The government has guaranteed funding for all European Structural and Investment Fund projects signed before we leave the EU – provided they are value for money and in line with domestic priorities.

EU Grants and Loans

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Communities and Local Government on the future of projects funded by European Structural and Investment Funds for which that funding is due to end in March 2018.

Mr Robin Walker: The Department for Exiting the European Union is working with departments across government, including the Department for Communities and Local Government, to ensure that people and businesses have stability and certainty in the period leading up to our departure in March 2019, and that we use the opportunities that our EU Exit presents to determine our own priorities. The government has guaranteed funding for all European Structural and Investment Fund projects signed before we leave the EU – provided they are value for money and in line with domestic priorities.

EU Grants and Loans

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the future of projects funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds for which that funding is due to end in March 2018.

Mr Robin Walker: The Department for Exiting the European Union is working with departments across government, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to ensure that people and businesses have stability and certainty in the period leading up to our departure in March 2019, and that we use the opportunities that our EU Exit presents to determine our own priorities. The government has guaranteed funding for all European Structural and Investment Fund projects signed before we leave the EU – provided they are value for money and in line with domestic priorities.

Department for International Development

Department for International Development: ICT

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department holds a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.

Rory Stewart: DFID’s arm’s-length bodies consist of ICAI and the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission. The Department holds a central list of the IT and digital assets provided to them by DFID. The Department does not hold any information relating to other IT or digital assets in use by these bodies.

Department for Education

English Language: Education

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to encourage collaboration between adult education colleges and businesses requiring language skills to assist English for Speakers of Other Languages learners into employment.

Anne Milton: The Department funds adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision through the Adult Education Budget. This provision prioritises individuals seeking employment. It also encourages collaboration between local businesses and Jobcentre Plus by offering providers the freedom to respond to the needs in their area.Additionally, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) play a key role in identifying skills gaps that includes ESOL. LEPs work with local businesses to develop a skills strategy to support business growth.

English Language: Education

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with (a) awarding organisations and (b) English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) providers on modernising the ESOL qualifications and curriculum framework.

Anne Milton: The Department engages with English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) providers and other stakeholders on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues, including the suitability of existing qualifications. In addition, the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum aims to increase consistency of teaching and provide clarity for the skills, knowledge and understanding that learners need in order to improve their English. The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulations (Ofqual) is responsible for ensuring that qualifications – including those for ESOL - are developed and delivered appropriately. Ofqual monitors closely the delivery of these qualifications and intervenes when standards are not met.

Languages: Special Educational Needs

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to require all state-funded schools to work with local authorities in developing a language needs assessment.

Anne Milton: The Department's school census now requires schools to report annually on the written and spoken English proficiency of their individual English as an additional language (EAL) pupils. A five-point scale is used that ranges from "new to English" through to "fluent" and guidance is available to help schools make an accurate assessment.Fulfilling this requirement will help schools identify the English language needs of their EAL pupils and to plan appropriate support.

English Language: Education

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve collaboration between English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) providers and local authorities to (a) identify and (b) meet the need for ESOL provision in each such authority area.

Anne Milton: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision is funded through the Adult Education Budget and delivered by a range of different providers. A number of local councils are themselves major ESOL providers.The Adult Education Budget is designed to give all providers the freedom and flexibility to respond to local needs and to work with local stakeholders, such as local councils, to coordinate provision. This means, for example, that local councils and training providers are able work together to determine the level of local need and how best to meet this with their combined resources.

Armed Forces: Children

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of children of service personnel receiving education in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Oxford West and Abingdon constituency.

Nick Gibb: The service child indicator collected annually via the school census is self-declared by parents. This indicator identifies children with parents who, at census day, are service personnel who are exercising parental care and responsibility and serving in: regular HM Forces military units; full commitment as part of the full time reserve service; or in the armed forces of another nation and stationed in England. Data from the 2017 spring school census, reflecting the position in schools as at 19 January 2017, shows that:a) 218 pupils recorded as a service child were on roll of primary schools in Oxford West and Abingdon constituency.b) 96 pupils recorded as a service child were on roll of secondary schools in Oxford West and Abingdon constituency. Additionally, the service child element of the pupil premium is allocated to children in year groups reception to year 11 who have been recorded as a service child on any pupil level census in the last 6 years or whose parent(s) are in receipt of a War Pension Scheme or Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme pension from the Ministry of Defence as a result of injury, illness or death caused by Service. Pupil premium allocations for the 2017 to 2018 financial year show there were 357 pupils in Oxford West and Abingdon constituency eligible for the service child element of the pupil premium. Of these:a) 232 pupils were eligible for the service child element of the pupil premium and on roll of primary schools in Oxford West and Abingdon constituency.b) 118 pupils were eligible for the service child element of the pupil premium and on roll of secondary schools in Oxford West and Abingdon constituency.c) 7 pupils were eligible for the service child element of the pupil premium and on roll of special schools in Oxford West and Abingdon constituency. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-conditions-of-grant-2017-to-2018.

Class Sizes: Oxford West and Abingdon

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the pupil-teacher ratio was in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Oxford West and Abingdon constituency in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: The attached table provides the average pupil to teacher ratio[1] in state funded primary and state funded secondary schools as reported by schools in Oxford West and Abingdon parliamentary constituency and England in November each year from 2011 to 2016. [1] The Pupil Teacher Ratios are calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on roll in schools in each year by the total number of FTE teachers in schools in each year. Where schools are not open on Census (January) they are excluded. See School Workforce Census methodology document for further information: Methodology: SFR25/2017



PTR in Oxford West and Abingdon state schools
(Excel SpreadSheet, 24.02 KB)

Intercountry Adoption: Pupil Premium

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to allow children living in the UK who were adopted in a foreign country to be eligible for Pupil Premium Plus.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The government is currently considering the educational entitlements of children adopted from care outside England and Wales.

Pupils: Diabetes

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department offers to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools to ensure that they understand the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that schools in England are (a) aware of and (b) comply with the statutory guidance Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We know how important it is that children with medical conditions such as diabetes are supported to enjoy a full education. That is why we introduced the duty to require governing bodies to make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions and have provided statutory guidance outlining schools’ responsibilities in this area. As part of this guidance, we have provided a collection of links to useful resources to help schools support their pupils with medical conditions. This includes a link to the ‘diabetes in schools’ section of the Diabetes UK website. As of 15 June 2016, Diabetes UK estimate that 95% of under 19s with diabetes in the UK have Type 1 diabetes. We also continue to work with organisations such as the Health Conditions in Schools Alliance to help raise further awareness of the duty on schools, and have recently promoted the duty through the department’s social media channels.

Sign Language: GCSE

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make British sign language available as a GCSE.

Nick Gibb: At present, there are no plans to introduce any further GCSEs beyond those to which the Government has already committed.

Apprentices: West Midlands

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeships have been offered at Level 5 and above to people aged under 25 in each local authority area of the West Midlands in the last 12 months.

Anne Milton: We do not collect data on the number of apprenticeships offered but we collect data on apprenticeship starts. The table below provides figures of the number of apprenticeship starts at Level 5 and above to people aged under 25 in each local authority area of the West Midlands for the 2016/2017 provisional full academic year. West Midlands Local Education Authorities (LEAs)StartsBirmingham70Coventry30Dudley20Herefordshire10Sandwell20Shropshire20Solihull20Staffordshire40Stoke-on-Trent20Telford and Wrekin30Walsall20Warwickshire40Wolverhampton20Worcestershire40Total370Figures are rounded to the nearest ten. The sum of the LEA breakdowns may not match the overall total as this is calculated from unrounded data. For further information on apprenticeship starts by local council breakdowns, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/650904/201617_Oct_Apps_Geography_Data_Pack_Final.xlsm.

English Language: Education

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to incentivise employers to contribute towards the cost of English for Speakers of Other Languages classes for their employees.

Anne Milton: We know that English language skills help people get into work, progress in their careers and integrate into life in England. This is why we provide full funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses for adults who are job seekers on work-related benefits. We also co-fund other adults, such as employed learners, with the Government contributing 50% of course cost. This provides an incentive for others, including employers, to contribute to the costs of ESOL courses.In the last financial year, the government also made £9.8 million available for work place based education and skills programmes through Unionlearn. A number of these projects focused on identifying and supporting employees with ESOL needs.ESOL learners who complete their qualification benefit from a 6% wage premium within 3-5 years of completing their course. This indicates that employers value the benefits of language skills.

Children's Centres: Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will make it her policy to support the provision of birth registration in children's centres and family hubs.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Engaging disadvantaged families early is important. It is, however, for local councils to establish how best to do this. Making children’s centres or family hubs one of the places where parents can register the birth of their child is one approach, and local councils are free to do this. It may not be the best solution everywhere however, and we agree with the conclusions of the 2013 Education Select Committee that this is not something that central government should dictate.

Children: Day Care

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of nurseries in York have signed up to the provisions of 30 hours of free childcare.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Local councils are responsible for assessing supply and demand for 30 hours and ensuring that there are sufficient places available for working parents locally.Our independent evaluation of early delivery of 30 hours found that all providers who were already offering the 15 hours universal entitlement in York also offered 30 hours.

Wakefield City Academies Trust

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the level of benefit received by local communities from monies given by her Department to Wakefield City Academy Trust as part of the Northern Powerhouse programme in 2015.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the level of benefit received by students at schools served by Wakefield City Academy Trust from the funding given to that Trust by her Department as part of the Northern Powerhouse programme in 2015.

Mr Robert Goodwill: As previously published, in 2015, £527,464 was awarded to Wakefield City Academies Trust through this fund to enable the Trust to expand into the Bradford region. The purpose of the Northern Fund, announced in December 2014, was to support the expansion of effective academy chains to drive up educational standards across the North (the North, Lancashire and West Yorkshire, and East Midlands and Humber). Each grant agreement set out clear key performance indicators that trusts receiving funding are monitored against. A full evaluation of the Northern Fund has not yet been undertaken.

Office for Students

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the remit of the Office for Students will include anti-discrimination on campus.

Joseph Johnson: The government has published a consultation on behalf of the new Office for Students (OfS) regarding the regulation of the higher education sector. It proposes that, in its regulatory approach, the OfS will look to ensure that all students, from all backgrounds can access, succeed in, and progress from higher educationHigher Education (HE) providers are autonomous organisations, independent from Government, and they already have responsibilities to ensure that they provide a safe, inclusive environment, including legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act) to ensure that students do not face discrimination.The OfS, like some HE providers, will also have obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty in part 11 of the Act. This includes a requirement that the OfS, when exercising its functions, has due regard to the need to: eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other unlawful conduct in the Act, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations in relation to protected characteristics.In addition, in September 2015 the government asked Universities UK (UUK) to set up a Harassment Taskforce, composed of university leaders, student representatives and academic experts, to consider what more can be done to address harassment and hate crime on campus. The taskforce published its report, ‘Changing the Culture’, in October 2016, which sets out that universities should embed a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment and hate crime. This includes hate crime or harassment on the basis of religion or belief, such as antisemitism and Islamophobia. The Higher Education Funding Council for England is currently working with UUK to test the sector’s response to the Taskforce’s recommendations and the results of this will be published early in 2018.

Adult Education

Jared O'Mara: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much of the adult education budget was spent last year; and how many bids were received for that grant.

Anne Milton: Based on the 2016-17 financial year, the total adult education budget was £1.5billion. Our latest annual accounts for the financial year 2016-17 show an underspend of £15million, or 1 per cent, at year end. Providers were allocated funds based on the previous year, so no bids were received.

Apprentices: Females

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to promote the extension of apprenticeships to women in their sixties.

Anne Milton: Apprenticeships are an excellent route into skilled employment for those of all ages. Women have accounted for the majority of apprenticeship starts - 53.5 per cent in 2016/17 (provisional 2016/17 full year data). It is important that both older and younger people are able to achieve the long term benefits associated with completing an apprenticeship, which include an increase in wages and progression in their careers. Women in particular can face challenges when returning to full-time employment, such as arranging necessary childcare or care for relatives. We have therefore amended our Funding Rules to allow more flexibility in working arrangements. This will make it easier for part-time workers to undertake apprenticeships, such as those with caring responsibilities and single parents. The employer-led Apprenticeships Diversity Champions Network is encouraging apprenticeships amongst those from a diverse range of backgrounds. This will include championing female apprenticeships particularly within sectors where women are currently underrepresented.

Work Experience: Disability

Julia Lopez: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that young disabled people are able to participate in work experience.

Anne Milton: We want all young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to be able to access high quality external work placements. This is so they can benefit from real life work experience in the same way as any other student. The Government is aware that SEND students may require more support when embarking on a work experience placement. We have recently launched a work placements Capacity and Delivery Fund which will receive £74 million in additional funding from April 2018. This will help providers boost their capacity to provide work placements from 2018/19. We expect providers to use some of this fund, alongside other available funding (e.g., High Needs Funding), to provide additional support and any reasonable adjustments within the workplace. This will enable students with SEND to access the same quality of provision as their peers.

Vocational Guidance: Disability

Julia Lopez: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that young disabled people are able to access good quality careers advice.

Anne Milton: The Government is taking steps to improve careers education and guidance for all ages. We are investing over £70m this year to help young people and adults access quality careers provision. The Government is also funding specialist training for careers advisers working with young people who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). And we will be supporting post-16 providers in developing training and materials to help young people entering the workplace. The careers strategy, which will be published shortly, will include proposals to improve the quality and coverage of careers advice in schools. In particular, these will provide aspirational careers advice for children, young people and adults with SEND.

Ministry of Justice

Family Proceedings

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is his policy to maintain current reciprocal arrangements between the UK and the EU in respect of family law cases after the UK leaves the EU.

Dominic Raab: As set out in the Government’s paper “Providing a cross-border civil judicial cooperation framework”, an effective framework of civil judicial cooperation, which includes family law, is an important part of the deep and special partnership we want to establish with the EU. The Government will therefore seek an agreement with the EU that allows for close and comprehensive cross-border civil judicial cooperation on a reciprocal basis, which reflects closely the substantive principles of cooperation under the current EU framework.The nature of this future agreement is currently the subject of negotiations with our EU partners, but would provide confidence and certainty to families and individuals that they can continue to settle cross-border disputes efficiently and effectively in the future.

Family Courts

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the need for changes in the family courts system to address the issue of parental alienation.

Dominic Raab: “Parental alienation” describes a situation where a parent knowingly (or unknowingly) manipulates a child’s wishes and feelings towards the other parent in an effort to undermine and interfere with their relationship. The Government is confident that the family justice system can robustly address such behaviour when it is alleged in child arrangements cases.As the child’s welfare must be the court’s paramount concern, there is a statutory presumption that the involvement of a parent in the child’s life will further the child’s welfare, unless the contrary can be shown. The court must consider the child’s ascertainable wishes and feelings and how capable each of the parents are of meeting the child’s needs. These principles of the Children Act 1989 safeguard against orders being made because of implacable hostility by one parent.Where Cafcass practitioners prepare a report into the child’s welfare, they are aware of the potential for children to be influenced or alienated by parental views. Any concerns of ‘parental alienation’ will be reported to the court.

Courts: Sunderland

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will visit the court building in Sunderland to assess the need for refurbishment.

Dominic Raab: HM Courts & Tribunals Service recognises the need for refurbishment of Sunderland Magistrates’ Court. We are committed to maintaining and improving the building. Work is already planned to address safety, security and accessibility concerns. A recent condition survey highlighted a number of issues which will be addressed in order of priority as soon as is reasonably practical and as resources allow.

Prisoners: Suicide

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2017 to Question 109680, on prisons: suicide, how many and what proportion of self-inflicted deaths were prisoners (a) on medication for mental health issues and (b) participating in talking therapies at the time of their death.

Mr Sam Gyimah: This information is not collected centrally. Every self-inflicted death in prison custody is independently investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) and is the subject of a coroner’s inquest. We take the findings of these investigations very seriously. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service works with healthcare partners to ensure that action is taken to address the recommendations made by the PPO, and any matters of concern brought to our attention by coroners, including any that relate to the provision of medication or therapies for mental health conditions.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Injuries

Jared O'Mara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research his Department has commissioned into the prevention of non-freezing cold injury.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: A field assessment tool is currently being developed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) which aims to reduce the incidence of non-freezing cold injury (NFCI). The tool will shortly enter its clinical assessment phase.A MOD commissioned study, which commenced in April 2016, is investigating the symptoms of NFCI and has reported that NFCI is a form of neuropathy. As a result, further research is planned to look at the pathophysiology of NFCI and, in particular, whether there is a vascular component to it.

Marines

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Marines personnel are employed in the (a) armoured support, (b) armourer, (c) assault engineer, (d) clerk, (e) combat intelligence, (f) driver, (g) drill instructor, (h) general duties, (i) heavy weapons (air defence), (j) heavy weapons (anti-tank), (k) heavy weapons (mortars), (l) landing craft, (m) metalsmith, (n) mountain leader, (o) physical training instructor, (p) platoon weapons (sniper), (q) platoon weapons (machine gunner), (r) Royal Marines aircrewman, (s) Royal Marines communications technician, (t) Royal Marines information systems (RMIS, (u) Royal Marines medical assistant (RMMA), (v) Royal Marines Police, (w) signaller, (x) special forces communicator (SFC), (y) stores accountant, (z) telecommunications technician, (aa) vehicle mechanic (ab) artificer telecommunications, (ac) artificer vehicles, (ad) foreman of signals and (ae) yeoman of signals specialist roles.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: I am witholding information on the number of personnel in each specific specialisation within the Royal Marines as to release this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. More general monthly personnel statistics for the Trained Strength Regular Royal Marines are published by Defence Statistics and as at 1 September 2017 are:  RanksNumber of PersonnelOfficers Band Service10Officers General Service700Officers RM Pilot30Ratings Band Service340Ratings General Service5,360RM Aircrewman40RM Medical Assistant60RM Chef60TOTAL6, 600  All totals are rounded as a means of disclosure control and to improve the clarity of outputs, therefore totals may not equal the sum of their parts.

Defence: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and which of his Department's contracts since the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Revenue of value equal to or greater than £1 billion have been placed taking into account National Security Objective 3.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and which of his Department's contracts since the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Revenue of value equal to or greater than £100 million have been placed taking into account National Security Objective 3.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and which of his Department's contracts since the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Revenue of value equal to or greater than £10 million have been placed taking into account National Security Objective 3.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what weight he attached to the marking criteria for National Security Objective 3 in developing each of his Department's contracts whose value is £1 billion or above for which that objective was taken into account.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what weight he attached to the marking criteria for National Security Objective 3 in developing each of his Department's contracts whose value is £10 million or above for which that objective was taken into account.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what weight he attached to the marking criteria for National Security Objective 3 in developing each of his Department's contracts whose value is £100 million or above for which that objective was taken into account.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Between publication of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) in November 2015 and 31 March 2017, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) awarded nearly 150 contracts with a value of more than £10 million. Around 20 of these are worth more than £100 million, with none over £1 billion. These figures do not include extensions to existing contracts, for example the Type 26 manufacture contract or the revised UK Military Flying Training System agreements. Information about contracts awarded during the 2017-18 financial year is still being validated, so a full picture of new contracts awarded since 1 April 2017 is not yet available. Records are not held centrally for all of these contracts and therefore comprehensive information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, available records show that none of the contracts over £100 million awarded during that period included specific criteria relating to National Security Objective 3. For some contracts, the issues outlined in the objective had been considered but not explicitly rendered into the award criteria. Others were awarded on a single-source basis and, for some, contract award criteria had been set prior to publication of the SDSR. National Security Objective 3 covers an extensive range of subjects in relation to promoting UK prosperity: strengthening relationships with international partners, creating a more open, innovative defence sector, enhancing support to exports, and investing in skills and capabilities. The wide-ranging nature of the objective therefore means it is difficult to condense into a set of contract award criteria with relevant weightings. Instead, officials responsible for procuring defence capabilities are expected to consider these issues throughout the procurement process, from setting requirements through to awarding a contract and beyond. The steps we are taking to help further promote UK prosperity will be outlined in more detail in our forthcoming refreshed defence industrial policy. This will include information on how our approach to defence procurement is designed to help the UK's defence and security industries grow and compete successfully.

Ministry of Defence: Babcock International

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times officials of his Department have received hospitality from Babcock International in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Ministry of Defence (MOD) policy is that individuals record all instances of official hospitality, however these details are not currently held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of hospitality accepted by MOD Ministers and senior officials is, however, published as part of the Government's Transparency agenda on gov.uk at the following links:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-january-to-december-2017.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-senior-officials-business-expenses-hospitality-and-meetings-january-to-december-2015.

Ministry of Defence: Babcock International

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received from Babcock International on the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To inform the development of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Ministry of Defence engaged with UK Industry and visited many firms, including Babcock International, and will continue to do so as the Strategy is implemented.

Ministry of Defence: Babcock International

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contracts are currently in place between his Department and Babcock International.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Babcock is the second largest supplier to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), with 290 contracts currently in place, worth more than £18 billion. These contracts cover a range of equipment, capability and services across the maritime, air and land domains.In the maritime area, Babcock delivers all submarine refits and maintenance, as well as the £2 billion Maritime Support Delivery Framework, which provides management of the UK's naval bases and support to surface ships. Babcock is also the in-service support integration partner for Successor, and is part of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, delivering the Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers with Thales and BAE Systems.In the land domain, Babcock is responsible for managing white fleet services under the Phoenix agreement, and for the maintenance and repair of Army vehicles. It also provides engineer training through the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers and Royal Navy schools, building on existing training for the Royal School of Military Engineering.In the air environment, Babcock delivers the UK Military Flying Training System in a 50/50 joint venture with Lockheed Martin known as Ascent Flight Training. The company also provides aircraft support, airbase multi-activity support contracts, and electro-mechanical training.More information about the contracts that we place with industry is available on gov.uk as part of our MOD Trade, Industry and Contracts statistics:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-trade-industry-and-contracts-2017.In addition, MOD contracts worth over £10,000 are published on the Government's Contracts Finder website, which is available on gov.uk at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder.

Ministry of Defence: Babcock International

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) senior civil servants of his Department and (b) former officers in the Armed Forces have taken up employment with Babcock International in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: One Senior Civil Servant is confirmed as taking up an appointment with Babcock Marine and Technology (parent company- Babcock International Group) on 3 August 2015. Further information can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-business-appointment-rules-may-to-december-2015

Ministry of Defence: Babcock International

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many events organised on behalf of his Department have received sponsorship from Babcock International in the last 12 months.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: From 1 April 2016 to date Babcock has entered into eight sponsorship arrangements with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), six of which supported non-publicly funded sporting events, and two others in respect of a publicly funded magazine and an air display team.MOD policy is to deal with external organisations in a fair, equitable, open and transparent way, allowing no opportunity for, or the perception of, undue influence to be exerted by the external organisation in the decision-making processes. Each sponsorship arrangement is individually evaluated on these principles as well as for the demonstrable benefit to the MOD. We publish a summary of sponsorship arrangements which support publicly funded events and activities valued at £5,000 or more in our Annual Report and Accounts.

Ministry of Defence: Babcock International

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with Babcock International on the provision of information requested by the Single Source Regulations Office.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO) have informed us that they have raised a number of queries on information contained in the statutory reports required to be completed by Babcock. In some of these cases, the SSRO have also sought clarification from the Ministry of Defence. Most of these concern issues that the Department routinely discusses with Babcock to assure itself that the costs charged are appropriate, attributable to the contract and reasonable, and hence allowable under the regulations, or ensuring that profit is calculated as prescribed by the legislation.

Marines: Deployment

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in which operations are personnel from the Royal Marines currently deployed.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in which operations personnel from the Royal Marines have been deployed in each of the last 10 years.

Mark Lancaster: The Royal Marines deploy around the world in support of UK operations ranging from International Engagement, Maritime Security and War Fighting.For operational security reasons, I am unable to release a full list of operations over the periods requested, as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Ministry of Defence: Babcock International

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many meetings have taken place between (a) Ministers and civil servants of his Department and (b) members of the Armed Forces with Babcock International in the last 12 months.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Between 1 November 2016 and 31 October 2017, the previous Secretary of State chaired two meetings of the Defence Suppliers Forum which were attended by representatives from Babcock International, at which the Minister for Defence Procurement was also present. She co-chaired a Defence Growth Partnership meeting at which Babcock International were represented, and had two further meetings with Babcock International.With regard to the number of meetings between Civil Servants and members of the Armed Forces with Babcock International in the last 12 months, this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces Covenant

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance his Department offers to corporate signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant to support the Armed Forces community.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Assistance by the Ministry of Defence for corporate signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant takes the form of on-line guidance via:https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/support-and-advice/businesses/which includes examples of best practice. Where appropriate, bespoke face-to-face support is offered through Defence Relationship Management and the network of regional Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations, who work with businesses and other organisations to ensure their Covenant pledges are suitably tailored to meet the needs of the signatory and Defence.

Armed Forces Covenant: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made in Northern Ireland on the implementation of the Military Covenant; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Department continues to improve the support offered to our Service personnel, their families and veterans through engagement with statutory providers and the charitable sector with a view to ensuring none are disadvantaged through service in or living in Northern Ireland (NI). The recent launch of the Veterans' Gateway is a positive example of developing this collaborative approach. In addition, the bespoke Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Aftercare Service provides support to those personnel referred through the regional Personnel Recovery Unit within 38 (Irish) Brigade.Any veteran whose needs are not met by statutory bodies or the charitable sector is looked after by a Veterans' Support Office (VSO), linked to each of the veterans champions established in every local authority. There is an intention to provide additional resources to strengthen the VSOs and improve NI's capacity to identify projects that could draw from the Covenant Fund.A further update on our initiatives in NI will be published in the next Covenant Annual Report to Parliament in December 2017.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expenditure was on the (a) Saudi Arabian National Guard Communications Project and (b) Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Project in the 2016-17 financial year; and what the budget is for each of those projects for the 2017-18 financial year.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Projects (MODSAP) in financial year 2016-17 amounted to £66.62 million. The budget for financial year 2017-18 is £60.18 million. The costs of MODSAP are met from a management fee received from the Saudi Arabian Government.The costs of the Saudi Arabian National Guard Communications Project (SANGCOM) are similarly recovered from the Saudi Arabian Government, but SANGCOM operates under a separate Memorandum of Understanding from MODSAP, under which the details of such recoveries are confidential to the two Governments.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) of his Department's civilian staff based in the UK, (b) UK military personnel based in the UK, (c) of his Department's civilian staff based in Saudi Arabia and (d) UK military personnel based in Saudi Arabia were employed by the (i) Saudi Arabian National Guard Communications Project and (ii) Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Project respectively on 1 April 2017.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The number of civilian and military personnel based in the UK and Saudi Arabia who were employed by the Saudi Arabian National Guard Communications Project (SANGCOM) and the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces (MODSAP) Projects on 1 April 2017 is shown below. The Saudi Arabian Government reimburses the UK Ministry of Defence for these staff costs and there is, therefore, no cost to the UK taxpayer.  Manpower number as at 1 April 2017SANGCOMMODSAPUK-based Civilian Staff273UK-based Military Staff036Saudi-based Civilian Staff4036Saudi-based Military Staff2063

Veterans: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the number of armed forces veterans receiving inpatient and outpatient mental healthcare in Wales.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has had no recent discussions with the Welsh Government on the number of UK Armed Forces veterans receiving inpatient and outpatient mental healthcare in Wales. The National Health Service (NHS) in Wales has responsibility for the provision of healthcare, including mental healthcare, for veterans living in Wales. The MOD works with the Welsh Government on many issues affecting veterans and, as detailed in the recently published Defence People Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2017-22, is working with partners including the Departments of Health and NHS across the UK to facilitate a better understanding of the mental health needs and priorities of the Armed Forces Community including veterans.We encourage veterans wishing to seek help with mental health problems to visit: www.gov.uk/mental-health-support-for-the-uk-armed-forces, or call the 24-hour veterans' mental health helpline, provided by Combat Stress, on 0800 138 1619. Information and advice on services is also available through the MOD's Veterans UK or the Veterans Gateway.

Ministry of Defence:ICT

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department holds a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We do not hold a central list of the IT and digital assets of the Ministry of Defence's arm's-length bodies. Under the delegated model, Senior Information Risk Owners, or an equivalent post, are appointed in each of the arm's-length bodies; they are expected to hold this information for their organisations in accordance with good practice. They report centrally on their organisation's key information systems as required.Defence Assurance and Information Security (DAIS) also maintains the Defence Assurance Risk Tool (DART), an automated central registration point for MOD IT systems (including applications and services) that require accreditation. Users, including the arm's-length bodies, are required to comply with initiating, inputting to and tracking their various Information Assurance-related requirements on the DART to ensure that they are properly managed.

Amphibious Vehicles

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answers of 16 October 2017 to Questions 106984, 106985, 106986 and 106987, how many M3 amphibious bridging vehicles are located in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answers of 16 October 2017 to Questions 106984, 106985, 106986 and 106987, if he will discuss with (a) his German counterpart and (b) German military command the feasibility of that country retaining and hosting either some or all of the 38 UK M3 amphibious bridging vehicles currently located in Germany following the final withdrawal of British forces in 2019; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answers of 16 October 2017 to Questions 106984, 106985, 106986 and 106987, if he will detail the estimated cost of relocating the 38 UK M3 amphibious bridging vehicles that are currently located in Germany back to the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answers of 16 October 2017 to Questions 106984, 106985, 106986 and 106987, whether 38 UK M3 amphibious bridging vehicles have been located in Germany during 2017; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Further to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 16 October 2017 to Questions 106984, 106985, 106986 and 106987, the future location of the UK's M3 amphibious bridging capability remains subject to consideration, including deliberation on operational requirement, costs and discussions with Germany.

Type 23 Frigates

Jared O'Mara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will name one of the Royal Navy's next generation of Type 26 frigates after the city of Sheffield.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The names for the new City Class Type 26 Frigates have been decided and will be announced at appropriate opportunities in the future. So far two ships have been named as HMS GLASGOW and HMS BELFAST

Armed Forces: Motor Vehicles

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the value was of commercial civilian vehicle leasing and hire contracts with his Department in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The cost to the Ministry of Defence of commercial vehicle leasing and hire for the last five financial years (FY) is: FY 2016-17FY 2015-16FY 2014-15FY 2013-14FY 2012-13£107.2 million£124.1 million£132.4 million£125.5 million£101.9 million

Armed Forces: Motor Vehicles

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many vehicles hired or leased by his Department driven by visiting forces have received damage that led to an insurance claim in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence does not hold claims information separately for incidents involving lease/hire vehicles. The number of third party motor claims received by the Department arising from the activities of visiting forces in the last five years is shown below. Calendar YearNumber of Third Party Motor Claims Received201229201318201429201519201628Total123

Armed Forces: Accidents

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel under the age of 21 have been involved in collisions whilst driving Category (a) A, (b) C1, (c) C1=E, (d) C, (e) C+E, (f) D1 and (g) D vehicles in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The recorded number of collisions involving Armed Forces personnel, under the age of 21, driving the vehicle categories requested, is below:  Calendar YearDriving CategoryAC1C1ECC+ED1D2012Nil8Nil75101172013Nil7Nil7871232014Nil4Nil6342462015Nil3Nil67111222016Nil3Nil5791562017 (to date)Nil3Nil4410112

Armed Forces: Accidents

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many motoring related personal injury claims have been made by members of the armed forces and against his Department in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The number of motoring related personal injury claims made by members of the Armed Forces against the Department in the last five years is shown below. Calendar YearMotoring Related Personal Injury Claims Received201217201345201446201537201614Total159

Armed Forces: Accidents

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many commercial civilian vehicles leased or hired by his Department have been involved in collisions or received damage which resulted in an insurance claim in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence does not hold claims information separately for incidents involving lease/hire vehicles. The number of third party motor claims received by the Department in the last five years is shown below. Calendar YearNumber of Third Party Motor Claims Received20121,41420131,41820141,43020151,49620161,972

RAF St Athan

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2017 to Question 107893, when he plans to publish plans for the transfer of No. 4 School of Technical Teaching from St Athan; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Plans for the move of No. 4 School of Technical Training from St Athan continue to evolve and it is not possible to say when they will be ready for publication.

Armed Forces

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) regular (i) soldiers, (ii) sailors and (iii) airmen and (b) reserve (A) soldiers, (B) sailors and (C) airmen, by medical category, there were for each year since 2010.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: There are three Medical Deployability Standard (MDS) categories for the Armed Forces. Medically Fully Deployable (MFD) personnel are those medically fit for duty with no employment limitations. Medically Limited Deployable (MLD) personnel are medically fit for duty with minor employment limitations. MLD personnel may have a medical condition or functional limitation that prevents the meeting of all MFD requirements. Medically Not Deployable (MND) personnel are medically fit for duty with major employment limitations. MND personnel are not fit to deploy on Operations but may be deployable on UK based exercises. The table below provides the number (n) and percentage of UK Regular Armed Forces in each MDS category, by Service as at 1 April for each year since 2010. These figures include full time trained and serving personnel against requirement. This was the deployable population.  AllMFDMLDMNDUnknown MDS nn%n%n%n%1 April 2010 All Services177,897 143,25381%18,10110%13,6158%2,9282%Naval Service3 35,502 28,36680%1,8435%2,9388%2,3557%Army102,261 80,54679%14,78614%6,7367%193 RAF 40,134 34,34186%1,4724%3,94110%3801%1 April 2011 All Services176,816 143,27881%18,82811%13,8008%9101%Naval Service3 35,426 29,79384%1,9956%2,8828%7562%Army101,303 79,09278%15,21715%6,9527%42 RAF 40,087 34,39386%1,6164%3,96610%112 1 April 2012 All Services170,010 137,86681%17,66611%14,2118%267 Naval Service3 33,287 28,42885%1,7865%2,8669%2071%Army 98,598 76,78178%14,31915%7,4808%18 RAF 38,125 32,65786%1,5614%3,86510%42 1 April 2013 All Services160,712 130,77081%15,46410%14,3529%126 Naval Service3 31,423 26,79985%1,8256%2,6979%102 Army 93,939 73,66878%12,23713%8,0219%13 RAF 35,350 30,30386%1,4024%3,63410%11 1 April 2014 All Services150,891 122,61681%13,8119%14,39610%68 Naval Service3 30,509 25,86685%1,7326%2,8599%52 Army 87,176 68,56479%10,66712%7,9389%7 RAF 33,206 28,18685%1,4124%3,59911%9 1 April 2015 All Services144,117 116,12581%13,4019%14,54710%44 Naval Service3 30,058 25,33884%1,8466%2,8409%34 Army 82,231 63,85478%10,12212%8,24610%9 RAF 31,828 26,93385%1,4335%3,46111%1 1 April 2016 All Services140,432 112,02480%13,55110%14,82211%35 Naval Service3 29,702 24,85084%1,9327%2,89210%28 Army 79,746 61,43177%10,00113%8,30810%6 RAF 30,984 25,74383%1,6185%3,62212%1 1 April 2017 All Services 138,844 111,02680%13,86010%13,91610%42 Naval Service3 29,584 24,79384%2,0447%2,7229%25 Army 78,407 60,53277%9,97113%7,89010%14 RAF 30,853 25,70183%1,8456%3,30411%3  1 Full time trade trained and serving against requirement personnel.2 As at 1 April each year.3 Includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The table below provides the number and percentage of UK Future Reserves 2020 personnel in each MDS, by Service as at 1 April for each year since 2013. Like for like figures for all three Services are not available prior to October 2012.  AllMFDMLDMLDUnknown MDS nn%n%n%n%1 April 2013 All Services29,38824,51483%2,3228%1,4225%1,1304%Maritime Reserves32,6102,19684%683%492%29711%Army Reserves25,23821,05683%2,2329%1,2905%6603%RAF Reserves1,5401,26282%221%835%17311%1 April 2014 All Services28,14722,93581%2,5549%1,4805%1,1784%Maritime Reserves32,8502,33582%1064%692%34012%Army Reserves23,57819,27882%2,40910%1,3196%5722%RAF Reserves1,7191,32277%392%925%26615%1 April 2015 All Services30,81423,89878%2,7709%1,5645%2,5828%Maritime Reserves33,1572,45778%1214%742%50516%Army Reserves25,43819,88478%2,59210%1,3925%1,5706%RAF Reserves2,2191,55770%573%984%50723%1 April 2016 All Services34,75526,18075%3,1059%1,6765%3,79411%Maritime Reserves33,5412,88381%1314%1043%42312%Army Reserves28,67221,39875%2,88810%1,4805%2,90610%RAF Reserves2,5421,89975%863%924%46518%1 April 2017 All Services36,22227,48476%3,3549%1,8085%3,57610%Maritime Reserves33,5552,92582%1594%1083%36310%Army Reserves29,94122,42375%3,09210%1,5815%2,84510%RAF Reserves2,7262,13678%1034%1194%36813%  1 Includes trained and untrained Reservist personnel.2 As at 1 April each year.3 Maritime Reserves comprises the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Marine Reserve.

Warships

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy ships the Government has ordered since May 2010; and how many such ships have been brought into full operational service since May 2010.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Since May 2010, orders have been placed for three Type 26 Frigates, five Offshore Patrol Vessels and four Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability Tankers, the first of which, RFA TIDESPRING, is due to enter service later this year. The Ministry of Defence has also placed a contract for up to 38 workboats to assist Royal Navy ships in the UK and overseas. One of these will enter service next year as the replacement for the survey ship HMS GLEANER.

Warships

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy ships have been taken out of operational service, sold, disposed of or decommissioned since May 2010.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: I have interpreted “taken out of operational service” or “decommissioned” to be ships’ out of service dates. Royal Navy ships that have reached their out of service date and those that have been disposed of since May 2010 are listed below. ShipYear of Out of Service Date from May 2010 to October 2017Year of DisposalHMS ROEBUCK-2010RFA OAKLEAF-2010HMS WALNEY2010-RFA LARGS BAY20112011HMS INVINCIBLE-2011HMS EXETER-2011HMS NOTTINGHAM-2011HMS SOUTHAMPTON-2011HMS CHATHAM20112013HMS CAMPBELTOWN20112013HMS CUMBERLAND20112013HMS CORNWALL20112013RFA BAYLEAF20112012RFA FORT GEORGE20112013HMS ARK ROYAL20112013HMS MANCHESTER20112014HMS GLOUCESTER20112015HMS LIVERPOOL20122014HMS YORK20122015HMS EDINBURGH20132015HMS ENDURANCE-2016HMS ILLUSTRIOUS20142016RFA ORANGELEAF20152016RFA DILIGENCE2016-RFA BLACK ROVER2016-RFA GOLD ROVER2017-HMS SEVERN2017- Notes:1. Some ships disposed of since May 2010 will have reached their out of service dates prior to May 2010. 2. HMS ENDURANCE was effectively out of service following her incident in 2008.

Navy: Spare Parts

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the National Audit Office Report entitled Investigation into equipment cannibalisation in the Royal Navy, HC525, what steps he plans to take to address the increase in the level of equipment cannibalisation in the Royal Navy over the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy ships cannot currently be operated due to being cannibalised to support another vessel.

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the National Audit Office Report entitled Investigation into equipment cannibalisation in the Royal Navy, HC525, what steps he is taking to address the risk to operational capability posed by a lack of spare parts in the Royal Navy and its demoralising effect on personnel described in that report.

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department forecasts an increase in cannibalisation over the next 12 months in order to maintain key Royal Navy assets at sea or in a state of readiness.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 8, of the National Audit Office report, Investigation into equipment cannibalisation in the Royal Navy, published on 1 November 2017, what steps he is taking to address information and data collection gaps surrounding equipment cannibalisation across the Royal Navy Fleet.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons equipment cannibalisation within the Royal Navy has increased.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Royal Navy (RN) continues to deliver their operational commitments at home and overseas. Cannibalisation is a recognised Defence practice for satisfying a materiel demand within a required delivery date and has been in place for many years in the Armed Forces. It is used only when all other sources of supply have been explored and is essential to protecting the operational programmes of our units.The operational imperative for the RN often dictates that cannibalisation remains the best solution. While it is the case that the percentage of cannibalisation has risen over the period of the report, it represents only 0.4% of all equipment issued to the RN.The RN is working closely with other organisations within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to optimise the balance between equipment and system reliability and the purchase of spares and stock inventory. The RN has introduced an "in Service Capability Management" organisation which clearly attributes accountability and responsibility for platform performance, driving improvements in availability, reliability, sustainability and affordability.The RN will now use the information from the Report to monitor trends more closely, review the impact of cost saving decisions, aiming to improve support and greater efficiency.The MOD continues to invest in advanced modelling of their inventory requirement to ensure that the requirements of complex operations, technologically advanced equipment and high tempo programmes are achieved. This investment ensures that cannibalisation remains a last resort option. However, there is no evidence that this recognised practice is having a demoralising effect on members of the RN.

Submarines: Spare Parts

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the report entitled Investigation into equipment cannibalisation in the Royal Navy, HC525, what the total cost was of the 59 cannibalisation instances per submarine that was quoted in that report.

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to reduce the amount of cannibalisation involving Astute Class submarines.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The 59 instances the Report refers to are the National Audit Office's calculations of the average level of the redistribution of parts across the Astute Class submarine fleet. The costs of in-service support for the submarine fleet are not captured in the format requested.Across the Maritime Domain work is under way to deliver improved effective and efficient support. The Royal Navy will use the information from the Report to monitor trends more closely and review the impact of cost saving decisions to inform their through life management approach.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the progress of the roll-out of universal credit in Northern Ireland in the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Assembly and responsible ministers to oversee that roll-out; and if he will make a statement.

Damian Hinds: As benefit issues are devolved in Northern Ireland the Department for Communities (DfC) have responsibility for the delivery of Universal Credit with the support of DWP and the Universal Credit Programme. The implementation of Universal Credit was agreed by NI Ministers prior to the dissolution of the NI assembly and as part of the Fresh Start agreement. As such we continue to deliver as per the agreed plans. Universal Credit has been introduced in Northern Ireland for new claims, on a phased geographical basis by post code groups aligned to front office locations, which started from September 2017 to September 2018.

Universal Credit

Jared O'Mara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications of universal credit being paid into one person's account when the claim is in the name of a couple; and if he will make a statement.

Damian Hinds: If a couple is living together in a household, Universal Credit (UC) normally makes a single award to that household. It is for the couple in the household to determine where their single award is paid. This could be either a joint account or an individual account held by one member of the couple. Within UC it is possible for a payment to be divided between two members of the household. This is known as a Split Payment and it is designed to prevent hardship to the claimant and their family. It is considered in certain specific situations such as domestic violence or where financial abuse occurs and one partner mismanages the UC payment. Our approach is based on the evidence that suggests that only 7% of cohabiting couples and only 2% of married couples keep their finances completely separate.

Universal Credit: Disability

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimates his Department has made of the number of disabled people who will apply for universal credit in the next phase of roll-out.

Damian Hinds: This information is not available.

Universal Credit: Disability

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will include data on the number of disabled people receiving universal credit in its monthly publication of universal credit statistics.

Damian Hinds: We have consulted users on the expansion of Universal Credit statistics. We are currently reviewing the responses and if reporting on the numbers of people with disabilities proves to be a high priority for our users we will consider publishing them regularly, subject to sufficient quality assurance.

Universal Credit

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to record the number of people who apply for and receive universal credit.

Damian Hinds: The information requested is available as part of the Universal Credit experimental official statistics which can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics.

Universal Credit: Leigh

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people claiming universal credit in Leigh have requested an advance on their payments in each of the last four years.

Damian Hinds: There is no data broken down by area or region. The latest statistics on Universal Credit Advances were published on 02 October 2017 which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-payment-advances-may-2016-to-june-2017. This shows that, in July 2017, 8,400 new claims to UC Full Service received either a New Claim or Benefit Transfer Advance. This represents 52% of new claims that are eligible for a UC payment.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fracking

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Oral Answer of the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Edinburgh East of 25 October 2017, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the proposals to be brought to Parliament on fracking.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has regular discussions with my Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister around matters of environment policy.

Neonicotinoids

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the European Food Safety Authority on the effect of neonicotinoid pesticides on other pesticides; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is currently reviewing data on neonicotinoids. The UK continues to play an active part in the EFSA review which is due to be completed soon. The areas covered in these discussions are led by EFSA’s consideration of this data and Member State experts provide scientific input on the questions raised. Pesticides that carry unacceptable risks to pollinators should not be authorised. The Government keeps the developing evidence on neonicotinoids under review, advised by the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides. On the basis of current available evidence, we support the existing restrictions. In the light of proposals from the European Commission to remove most of the current uses of neonicotinoids we are reviewing the evidence and are considering our position.

Air Pollution and Water

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward proposals to allow the Natural Capital Committee to set legally binding targets on air and water quality.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Natural Capital Committee is an advisory committee and its role does not extend to setting targets, legally binding or otherwise. The UK already sets legally binding limit values on concentrations and national ceilings for total emissions of key air pollutants as well as emission limit values for industrial plants in domestic legislation, implementing the Ambient Air Quality Directive, National Emission Ceilings Directive and Industrial Emissions Directive. Additionally, the UK recently agreed further ambitious, international targets to reduce national emissions of five damaging air pollutants by 2020 and 2030. These 2020 and 2030 emission targets will be significantly stricter than the 2010 targets implemented by the current National Emission Ceilings Directive, requiring bold action across all sectors. River Basin Management Plans provide the framework for protecting and improving water quality by setting statutory objectives and setting out the actions that need to be taken to achieve them over a six year period. The plans were updated in 2015 and will be updated in 2021.

Recycling: Greater London

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the level of recycling rates in each London Borough.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: No estimates are made on the level of recycling rates in each London Borough. The 2015/16 published household waste recycling rate for each London Borough is shown in the table below: AuthorityAuthority typePercentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling or composting Barking and Dagenham LBCollection18.9%Barnet LBCollection36.8%Bexley LBCollection & Disposal52.0%Brent LBCollection35.8%Bromley LBCollection & Disposal46.3%Camden LBCollection24.8%City of LondonCollection & Disposal30.8%Croydon LBCollection & Disposal37.8%Ealing LBCollection43.0%Enfield LBCollection35.9%Greenwich LBCollection & Disposal34.8%Hackney LBCollection24.8%Hammersmith and Fulham LBCollection22.0%Haringey LBCollection36.2%Harrow LBCollection40.9%Havering LBCollection31.8%Hillingdon LBCollection44.1%Hounslow LBCollection33.8%Islington LBCollection29.4%Lambeth LBCollection28.7%Lewisham LBCollection & Disposal18.0%Merton LBCollection & Disposal34.8%Newham LBCollection14.7%Redbridge LBCollection27.7%Richmond upon Thames LBCollection40.5%Royal Borough of Kensington and ChelseaCollection25.9%Royal Borough of Kingston upon ThamesCollection & Disposal45.8%Southwark LBCollection & Disposal35.0%Sutton LBCollection & Disposal34.7%Tower Hamlets LBCollection & Disposal26.7%Waltham Forest LBCollection34.6%Wandsworth LBCollection21.1%Westminster City CouncilCollection & Disposal17.3%

Borders

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what preparations he is making to ensure sanitary and phytosanitary checks take place at the UK border on the day the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice: The precise nature of our future relationship with the EU is still to be determined and is the subject of negotiation. The Government is working to secure a deal which achieves the freest possible trade in goods and services between the UK and the EU. Discussion on the sanitary and phytosanitary conditions and related official controls that will be applicable to trade in animal and plant products will form part of these negotiations. Negotiations between the UK and the EU have so far been limited to the withdrawal arrangements. Like all Government departments, Defra is working on preparations for a range of scenarios to deliver a smooth departure from the EU.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: ICT

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department holds a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.

George Eustice: My Department’s arm’s-length bodies are responsible for maintaining records of their own IT and Digital assets, except for those assets managed as part of the Defra group contract with IBM.

Agriculture

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on Government support for the food and farming sectors after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice: The Secretary of State has had productive discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as we design a future agricultural policy to best support our farmers to grow more, sell more and export more great British food. I have also met with BEIS ministers to discuss these issues.

Animal Welfare: Sentencing

Kevin Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to introduce legislation to increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty offences to five years' imprisonment.

George Eustice: We hope to publish draft legislation for consultation around the turn of the year, as announced on 30 September.

Dairy Farming: South West

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the growth in the dairy industry in the South West.

George Eustice: The dairy industry is a very important contributor to the economy of South West England, with the region home to over 38% of England’s breeding dairy cows (and 23.75% of the UK’s) and 37% of England’s dairy holdings and producers. Government has made no specific assessment of the growth in the dairy industry in the South West in recent years.   Nevertheless, a report published by the National Farmers Union in October 2016 https://www.nfuonline.com/assets/67942 gives an insight on growing trends of the dairy industry in the South West.

Packaging: EU Law

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the packaging industry about the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC); and whether he has made representations to the European Commission on that directive.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Discussions have been held with a range of stakeholders, most recently roundtables with representatives of the drinks and coffee cup industries. Officials receive regular updates from the Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP), who represent all parts of the packaging supply chain, on a wide range of issues relating to the Directive and the UK’s implementing Regulations. The ACP last met on 24 October. Amendments to the Packaging Directive form part of the proposals for a Circular Economy Package (CEP). This package is currently under negotiation, involving regular and ongoing discussions with the Commission.

Food

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on the UK Food Security Assessment; and if he will make it his policy to measure and monitor household food insecurity in the UK more regularly.

George Eustice: We have just commenced a review of the UK Food Security Assessment. The Food Security Assessment analyses the different national and global factors impacting on UK food supply. It is a comprehensive piece of work, covering all aspects of food security, including UK household food security. The Government has committed to reviewing this assessment.The annual ONS Living Costs and Food Survey (LCFS) includes questions on household spend on food, including that of the lowest 20% income households, which has remained constant between 16% and 16.5% for a number of years.

Food: Prices

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to assess the effect of the recent rise in food prices on the level of food insecurity in the UK.

George Eustice: The ONS Living Costs and Food Survey (LCFS) includes questions on household spend on food, including that of the lowest 20% income households, which has remained constant between 16% and 16.5% for a number of years

Animal Breeding: Game

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of game farms in England and Wales using un-enriched raised laying cages for pheasants and partridges used for breeding.

George Eustice: Animal and Plant Health Agency do not record information on the number of game farms in England & Wales using un-enriched raised laying cages

Insects

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on the population trends of (a) winged insects and (b) non-winged insects in the UK during the last 30 years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Defra published its annual update of the UK and England Biodiversity Indicators on 3 August. This provides detailed statistical assessments of the status and trends of a range of wildlife populations including butterflies and other pollinating insects. The indicators of butterfly abundance in the UK show significant declines since 1976: by 74% for species most closely associated with flower-rich habitats and 57% for species of the wider countryside, although since 2011 the indicators have been broadly stable. Since 1980, the indicator of insect pollinator distribution in Great Britain which covers almost 400 species of bees and hoverflies, has declined by 13% although similarly, this indicator shows no overall change since 2011. We do not hold information specifically on non-winged insects, although some flightless insects and other invertebrates are included in our priority species indicators. Data and atlases showing the distribution of a range of invertebrates are available from the Biological Record Centre website or the National Biodiversity Network Atlas. England Biodiversity Indicators: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/england-biodiversity-indicatorsUK biodiversity indicators: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4229Biological Record Centre website: www.brc.ac.uk/atlasesNational Biodiversity Network Atlas: https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NHMSYS0001387317

Fly-tipping: Fines

Julia Lopez: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the maximum fine available to courts and local authorities for fly-tipping from the current levels.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Sentencing Guideline for environmental offences was reviewed and strengthened in 2014. The maximum penalty on indictment for fly-tipping is imprisonment of up to five years or a potentially unlimited fine. The value of total fines handed down increased in 2016/17 and custodial sentences for fly-tipping increased by 56%. The Government will continue to provide information to the Sentencing Council as they monitor the impact of their guidanceThe Government is committed to tackling fly-tipping at all levels. We have recently given local authorities the power to issue fixed penalty notices up to £400 for small scale fly-tipping and enhanced the local authorities and Environment Agency’s ability to search and seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers.

Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times the SAWS Transition Working Group has met each year since 2013; and whether he will publish its latest analysis.

George Eustice: The SAWS Transition Working Group has met 8 times since 2013. The evidence collated and discussed by the group includes commercially sensitive material. Reports of the working group are shared with the group members.

Trees: Imports

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2017 to Question 108716, on trees: imports, for what reasons the UK intercepts a higher proportion of harmful organisms than other EU countries.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Since 2014, we have invested in improving border security by recruiting new inspectors, enhancing training provision and facilitating closer working with Border Force. This additional investment has allowed the UK to increase its risk based inspections on goods which are not controlled at an EU level and therefore where mandatory inspections are not required. Uncontrolled trade inspections see relatively higher interception rates than inspections of controlled trades (15% vs 3%) and this data provides helpful intelligence and evidence to support new regulations and targeted monitoring.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Unitary Councils

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many applications to become a Unitary Authority are currently pending.

Jake Berry: My Department is considering whether to implement four proposals for unitarisation which we have received from councils - two separate proposals from councils in Buckinghamshire, one from councils in Dorset and one from councils in Oxfordshire.

Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had in the last 12 months with the ATM Industry Association in Europe on interchange fees.

Mr Marcus Jones: Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretary meetings with external organisations can be found at the following links on gov.uk:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dclg-ministerial-datahttps://www.gov.uk/government/collections/business-expenses-and-hospitality-for-dclg-senior-officials

Department for Communities and Local Government: ICT

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department holds a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.

Mr Marcus Jones: My Department does not hold a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies. This information is held by the individual arm's-length bodies.

Council Tax Reduction Schemes

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Independent Review of local council tax support schemes by Eric Ollerenshaw, published in October 2016, if he will implement the recommendation in that review to commission academic research on the effect of local council tax support schemes within the wider context of other welfare and socio-economic changes.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Department has considered the recommendations made by Eric Ollerenshaw in his review of local council tax support schemes. The Government response to the review’s findings will be published shortly.

Devolution: Urban Areas

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has set a (a) maximum and (b) minimum population size for areas and regions that wish to secure devolved powers.

Jake Berry: We have been clear that devolution is a bottom-up process, and so we welcome local ambitions to boost growth and productivity where there is agreement between local partners. We hope to be able to provide local areas with more clarity on how best to take forward these ambitions as Government sets out the next stages of its developing Industrial Strategy and our Framework for Devolution.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: ICT

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department holds a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office is responsible for one arms-length-body, the Boundary Commission for Scotland. The Boundary Commission for Scotland makes its own arrangements for information technology and its current system is provided by the Scottish Government. As such my department does not hold a central list of the Commission’s IT and digital assets.

HM Treasury

Overseas Loans: Disclosure of Information

Layla Moran: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of compliance with the requirements on lenders using UK law to ensure that loans to Governments are publicly disclosed.

Stephen Barclay: UK-based lenders are subject to extensive prudential disclosure requirements under UK law, including for loans made to Governments, which appropriately reflect firms’ exposures. Compliance with these requirements are independently assessed by the relevant UK regulator during their supervisory activities.

Treasury: ICT

Jon Trickett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department holds a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.

Andrew Jones: HM Treasury does not hold a central list of the IT and digital assets for all its arm’s length bodies. We do hold a list for the arm’s length bodies that use the Treasury’s shared IT service, these are UKGI, UKFI, NIC and GIAA.

European System of Financial Supervisors

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what provisions have been made to replace the role of the European Securities and Markets Authority, the European Banking Authority and the European Insurance Occupational Pension Authority in the UK.

Stephen Barclay: The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will convert all directly applicable European Union financial services legislation into British law. The powers under that Bill will be used to transfer functions currently undertaken by EU institutions to an appropriate UK body. The future of our relationship with the European Supervisory Authorities is subject to the outcome of the withdrawal negotiations. The UK and the EU will start from the unique position of regulatory alignment. We will look to create a new framework that allows for continued trust in one another’s institutions and a close partnership.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Robert Halfon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been raised from fuel duty in each year since 2010.

Andrew Jones: Fuel duty receipts statistics are available in HMRC’s Hydrocarbon Oils bulletin (see link below). This includes a breakdown of receipts by the main fuel types.https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Tax and Duty Bulletins/Oils0817.xls

Gambling: Excise Duties

Mr John Whittingdale: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the revenue raised in each of the last four years from machine games duty on (a) Type 1, (b) Type 2 and (c) Type 3 machines; and if he will list the revenue raised in each of the last four years from remote gaming duty.

Andrew Jones: Total receipts from Betting and Gaming duties are published here:https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutybulletins.aspx A breakdown of revenue for Machine Games Duty and Remote Gaming Duty is included in this publication. A separate breakdown for revenue from Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 machines is not available.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Jim Shannon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from Equitable Life policyholders on that company's policy of restricting queries on payments to email and letters.

Stephen Barclay: Due to the low level of demand, a move to start a telephone call centre does not currently offer good value for money. If a policyholder prefers to talk to the Scheme administrator they can request this as part of their initial written communication.

Northern Ireland Office

Borders: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to visit border communities in Northern Ireland to discuss the effect of the UK leaving the EU on those communities; and if he will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: I and my Ministerial colleagues have had and will continue to have meetings with a range of individuals, groups and businesses across Northern Ireland, including border areas, to discuss a variety of issues including the impact and opportunities of the UK’s exit from the European Union. The UK Government is determined to make a success of Brexit for the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland. We are committed to ensuring that the interests of Northern Ireland are protected and advanced through the development of specific solutions to address its unique circumstances.

Bombardier: Belfast

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to visit Bombardier in Belfast; if he will make an assessment of the implications of the recent deal between Bombardier and Airbus in the United States on future job prospects for people in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: I have been in regular contact with Bombardier over recent months, including a visit to the Belfast site last month. I hope to visit the site again soon following the welcome announcement of Bombardier’s prospective partnership agreement with Airbus on the C Series programme. That announcement represents a significant step forward for the C Series and for the workforce in Northern Ireland. While there is some way to go before the deal is completed, Airbus has said that it expects the partnership to secure the C Series and its industrial operations in the UK, Canada and China. We will continue to engage with both Bombardier and Airbus to understand how we can help to best secure jobs in the United Kingdom. My Rt Honourable Friend the Business Secretary made a statement on 17 October regarding the prospective partnership agreement, which fully reflected this Government’s commitment to supporting the jobs and livelihoods of the many skilled workers at Bombardier’s operations in Belfast.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Football: Commercial Agents

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2017 to Question 105258, on football: commercial agents, if she will make it her policy that any proposals from the Football Association on the future regulation of football agents are discussed with her Department.

Tracey Crouch: I meet regularly with the football authorities and discuss a range of issues affecting the sport, include aspects of regulation. The FA’s Regulations of Intermediaries are kept under regular review. Changes are made on the basis of operational experiences and ongoing discussions with relevant stakeholders.

Department of Health

Health Services: Greater Manchester

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the effect on plans for accountable care organisations in Manchester of NHS VAT arrangements agreed with HM Revenue and Customs; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: National Health Service organisations are responsible for deciding locally the most appropriate structures and arrangements they need to put in place to deliver services to their patients within available resources, meeting any tax liabilities that may arise and always ensuring they are working within the existing tax framework as applicable in the United Kingdom. This principle applies to the commissioning and delivery of the Accountable Care Models Contract (ACO contract). The Department expects local health economies, particularly providers, to consider carefully the VAT implications of any organisational form they choose to develop for the purpose of holding an ACO contract. An initial high level meeting between all affected parties was hosted by the Department on 13 July 2017. The Department and NHS England officials continue to work with Manchester and HM Revenue and Customs to assess the issues arising from the development of a Manchester ACO, including the VAT implications.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Health Education

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to raise awareness of myalgic encephalomyelitis among (a) healthcare professionals and (b) the general public.

Steve Brine: There is information readily available on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) for both healthcare professionals and the general public via NHS Choices website. Further information is also provided in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guidance which can be found via their website. This information is provided in formats suitable for both professionals and the public. Both the NHS Choices and NICE guidance can be found at the following links:www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs/www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg53On 20 September 2017, NICE announced plans to undertake a full review of the guidance to ensure it reflects the latest available evidence.Education and training is also an important feature in building the awareness of clinical professionals. In terms of education and training, the General Medical Council sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours that new United Kingdom medical graduates must be able to demonstrate and Royal Medical Colleges, such as the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) set the standards for postgraduate medical education in general practice. General practice is where most patients with CFS/ME are likely to be managed, and the condition is identified as a key area of clinical knowledge in the RCGP Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) content guide. The AKT is a summative assessment of the knowledge base that underpins general practice in the United Kingdom within the context of the National Health Service and is a key part of general practitioner’s qualifying exams.Once fully qualified, clinicians are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by NICE.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Health Education

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to mark International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases on 12 May 2018.

Steve Brine: There are no specific plans at this point. NHS England’s Long Term Conditions Unit works with partners such as voluntary sector organisations (including those with a remit on chronic disease) to synchronise communications activity in line with many annual awareness days. The NHS England media team may also provide support through social media to maximise the reach of established campaigns.

Transplant Surgery: Stem Cells

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 106946, how much from the public purse was spent on post-transplant stem cell treatment by (a) NHS England and (b) clinical commissioning groups in each of the last three years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England Specialised Commissioning funds blood and marrow transplantation which includes the costs associated with preparations for transplant (30 days before) and post-transplant care (100 days). Spend on these elements is not separately reported. Depending on patient and clinical factors, there are a number of treatments that patients might require within or after 100 days of transplant, which are also provided to other patient groups. Therefore, more detailed information about spend on post-transplant stem cell treatment is not broken down separately within each organisation’s respective accounts and is not available to report.

Medicine: Research

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress the Government has made on improving the transparency and affordability of publicly funded medical research.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is funded through the Department to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. The NIHR invests over £1 billion into health and public health research each year and is committed to “adding value in research” by maximizing the potential impact of research that it funds for patients and the public. This means ensuring that it answers the right questions (including effectiveness and cost effectiveness of interventions), delivers research efficiently and publishes results in full in an accessible and unbiased way. Full and open access to the knowledge generated by research is of the utmost importance to the NIHR. The NIHR commitment to transparency, the NIHR Journals Library, open access policy, and endorsement of the World Health Organization joint statement on the disclosure of results ensures that ideas and knowledge derived from publicly funded research are made available and accessible for public use. Departmental business planning, financial forecasting and in-year monitoring processes ensure the affordability of NIHR funded research.

Department of Health: ICT

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department holds a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department does not hold a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm’s length bodies.

NHS: Migrant Workers

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that non-UK NHS staff do not leave the NHS when the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Department values highly the enormous contribution made by all staff working across the health and care sectors, including those from other European countries and elsewhere in the world. We continue to monitor closely the overall staffing levels across the National Health Service and social care. We are also working across Government to ensure there will continue to be a sufficient number of staff to deliver the high quality services on which patients rely following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. My Rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister has been very clear that EU citizens living lawfully in the UK at the point when the UK leaves the EU will be allowed to stay.

Patients: Transport

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to help elderly patients who are unable to use hospital or community-supplied transport to attend hospital appointments.

Steve Brine: Patients who are not eligible on medical grounds for patient transport services, but have a low income and receive a qualifying benefit or allowance, can claim a refund for the cost of travelling to hospitals under the 'Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme' (HTCS). To qualify for help with travel costs under the HTCS, patients must meet three conditions: - At the time of appointment, the patient or their partner (including civil partners) must be receiving one of the qualifying benefits or allowances, or meet the eligibility criteria of the NHS Low Income Scheme;- The patient journey must be made to receive National Health Service-funded non-primary medical or non-primary dental care services, to which the patient has been referred to by a general practitioner (GP), dentist or hospital consultant; and- For referrals made by a primary practitioner such a GP or dentist, the service must be provided on a different day and in premises other than those occupied by the practitioner who made the referral.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust: Physiotherapy

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase specialist physiotherapy provision for children and adults with muscle-wasting conditions at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Steve Brine: The provision of specialist physiotherapy for muscle-wasting conditions, or neuromuscular disorders, is a local matter. NHS England has published service specifications for neurological care for both children and adults. These include exemplar service specifications for neuromuscular conditions, inclusive of muscle-wasting conditions, and set out what providers must have in place to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services. This includes access to physiotherapy. This guidance can be found by following the links below: www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/e09-paedi-neurology.pdf www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d04-neurosci-spec-neuro.pdf Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust is currently reviewing proposals for physiotherapy service development for patients with muscle-wasting disorders.

Patients: Transport

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the number of NHS appointments that are missed due to patients not being able to access transport.

Steve Brine: This information is not held centrally.

NHS: Fees and Charges

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) patient waiting times and (b) staff administration of the changes introduced by the National Health Service (Changes to Overseas Visitors) (Amendment) Regulations 2017.

Mr Philip Dunne: The United Kingdom has a residence based healthcare system, so overseas visitors are chargeable for National Health Service care unless an exemption category applies in the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015. Longstanding guidance to the NHS has advised that overseas visitors should pay in advance of accessing NHS care where their needs are non-urgent, meaning that care can safely wait until they return to their country of residence. From 23 October 2017 this has become a legal requirement, set out in the Regulations. Prior to committing to this change in law, the Government carefully considered the impact it may have. The requirement to pay upfront before accessing non-urgent care does not affect a chargeable overseas visitor’s access to services, except insofar as they are required to pay in advance of receiving non-urgent care. Urgent or immediately necessary care is provided regardless of whether upfront payment has been received. Only clinicians can assess the level of urgency. Consequently there is not expected to be an effect on patient waiting times. The estimated effects on staff administration costs of the introduced amendment regulations to extend and improve the recovery of costs of overseas visitors and migrants using the NHS who are not eligible for free care are estimated to be £1.7 million in 17/18 and £3.9 million for each subsequent year. This is on top of costs currently incurred in charging non-eligible patients.

NHS: Foreign Nationals

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the amount of non-ordinarily resident upfront charges collected in each of the last five years; and what amount is expected to be collected in each of the next five years.

Mr Philip Dunne: National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts in England all already have a statutory responsibility to make and recover charges from patients who are not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and are chargeable for their healthcare. Upfront charging of overseas visitors for non-urgent or immediately necessary care has been recommended best practice by the Department for several years, including in published national charging guidance. The published impact assessment estimates a £9 million income for 2017/18 and £23 million for each subsequent year from mandating upfront charging. It is also estimated than an extra income of £9 million for 2017/18 and £21 million for each subsequent year would be identified due to increased compliance since amendments to the charging regulations were made. We expect these incomes to be identified on top of the currently identified income from visitors and migrants, which in 2016/17 amounted to £81 million. The Department does not have estimates for each of the last five years on the number of upfront charges collected for non-ordinarily residents.

NHS: Fees and Charges

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the level of unpaid NHS charges in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS Trust.

Mr Philip Dunne: Since the financial year 2014/15, the amounts written off as bad debt in relation to direct charges made to overseas visitors and migrants are part of National Health Service trusts’ and foundation trusts’ annual accounts and are published on Gov.uk broken down by NHS trust. According to the published annual accounts, there have been £17 million in 2014/15, £16 million in 2015/16, and £17 million in 2016/17 written off as bad debt in relation to direct charges made to overseas visitors and migrants across England. At the same time, direct charges made to overseas visitors and migrants have increased from £47 million in 2014/15, through £69 million in 2015/16, to £81 million in 2016/17.

Maternity Services

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many local maternity systems plans have been submitted to NHS England; and when he plans to make those plans publicly available.

Mr Philip Dunne: As recommended in Better Births, local maternity systems have formed across England and are co-producing proposals with local women to make maternity services safer and more personal. Initial proposals have been shared with NHS England regional teams. These proposals are locally owned, and where they have not yet been published, the proposals will be published in due course, as part of continuing local engagement and co-production with women, staff and other stakeholders.

Contraceptives

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of GPs who refuse to prescribe the contraceptive pill due to a conscientious objection.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of rebooking appointments as a result of a refusal to prescribe the  contraceptive pill due to a conscientious objection.

Steve Brine: This information is not collected centrally. The General Medical Council advises, in their publication ‘Good Medical Practice’ that doctors must explain to patients if they have a conscientious objection to a particular procedure. Doctors must tell patients about their right to see another doctor and make sure they have enough information to exercise that right to arrange to see another doctor who does not hold the same objection.The guidance also advises that, if it is not practical for a patient to arrange to see another doctor, arrangements should be made – without delay – for another suitably qualified colleague to advise, treat or refer the patient. Doctors must bear in mind the patient’s vulnerability and act promptly to make sure they are not denied appropriate treatment or services.

Action On Smoking and Health

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2017 to Question 6854, whether his Department has provided funding from non-section 64 sources to the organisation Action on Smoking and Health in the 2017-18 financial year or any of the last 10 financial years.

Steve Brine: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 06 November 2017.The correct answer should have been:

In the past 10 years, the Department has paid Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) a total of £16,016.40 in non-grant funding for help in implementing additional strategies targeted at tackling health inequalities. Grant funding has also been given to ASH as in the attached table follows. Any payment to ASH in respect of activity for 2017-18 will depend upon the outcome of a competitive process to secure support for delivery of the Tobacco Control Plan. The Department’s financial records do not provide the level of detail to confirm whether funding was made under the legal power Section 64 of the Health and Public Services Act 1968 for all of this period. However, local records can confirm only Section 64 has been used since the financial year 2012/13.  



Grant Funding to ASH
(Word Document, 14.58 KB)

Steve Brine: In the past 10 years, the Department has paid Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) a total of £16,016.40 in non-grant funding for help in implementing additional strategies targeted at tackling health inequalities. Grant funding has also been given to ASH as in the attached table follows. Any payment to ASH in respect of activity for 2017-18 will depend upon the outcome of a competitive process to secure support for delivery of the Tobacco Control Plan. The Department’s financial records do not provide the level of detail to confirm whether funding was made under the legal power Section 64 of the Health and Public Services Act 1968 for all of this period. However, local records can confirm only Section 64 has been used since the financial year 2012/13.  



Grant Funding to ASH
(Word Document, 14.58 KB)

Transvaginal Mesh Implants

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department plans to take to assist people affected by failed mesh implants; and if he will make a statement.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The final report of the Mesh Oversight Group led by NHS England sets out the action that is being taken to improve awareness of complications, to ensure the consent process for patients is strengthened and to put in place access to additional care and support where needed. The Government will continue to work with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to ensure that the potential complications of these devices are better understood and that any necessary action is taken.

NHS: Working Conditions

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) improve the work environment of NHS Workers.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Government recognises the pressures that National Health Service staff are under and is proposing to improve the working environment for NHS staff by offering more flexible working, improving staff health and wellbeing, tackling bullying and violence against NHS staff. This will complement the work ongoing across the NHS, championed by NHS England, to ensure staff have a better working environment. The Department uses staff engagement as a proxy for measuring NHS staff morale and the 2016 NHS Staff Survey showed an improvement in the overall engagement score for the NHS. This score combines staff recommending their organisation as a place to work or receive treatment, staff motivation at work and how much staff are able to contribute towards improvement at work. NHS Employers is also working with NHS England and Public Health England on NHS England’s initiative[1] to improve staff health and wellbeing which includes a “CQUIN”[2] (Commissioning for Quality and Innovation), a new three part indicator focussing on getting staff better access to health and wellbeing initiatives, supporting them to make healthy choices and lead healthy lives. Notes: 1https://www.england.nhs.uk/2015/09/improving-staff-health/ 2https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cquin-guidance-16-17-v3.pdf

Mental Health Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time for a cognitive behaviour therapy appointment for a mental health condition is in each clinical commissioning group.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The annual Improving Access to Psychological Therapies report for 2015-16 includes average waiting times to enter treatment for therapies but the data is not broken down by therapy type. The report can be found here:http://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB22110

General Practitioners

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average time taken to process GP applications to the medical performers list is; and what steps he is taking to reduce that time.

Steve Brine: The information requested is not held by the Department. NHS England is responsible for commissioning primary care services for the population of England, and managing entry to Performers Lists. NHS England aims to have all applications to join the Performers List completed within a 12-week period. In 2018 NHS England is introducing an online application system to join the Performers List, which is expected to reduce the average processing time.

NHS: Reorganisation

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of redrawing the geographical scope of the Sussex and East Surrey Sustainability and Transformation Partnership.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what engagement events have been undertaken by the Sussex and East Surrey Sustainability and Transformation Partnership with local stakeholders since that partnership was set up.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the outcomes achieved by the Sussex and East Surrey Sustainability and Transformation Partnership  since it was set up.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been spent (a) in total, (b) on consultancy fees and (c) on reviews by the Sussex and East Surrey Sustainability and Transformation Partnership since it was sent up.

Steve Brine: Each of the organisations contained within Sussex and East Surrey’s Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP), is engaging staff, patients, local residents and stakeholder groups around their joint plans. The STP has decided that their preferred approach is to develop four 'place based plans' within their STP: Coastal Care, East Sussex Better Together and the North and South parts of the Central Sussex and East Surrey Alliance. They are undertaking public and patient engagement on that basis. Details of all engagement events they have held can be reviewed on the individual partner websites. In addition, the partners are also establishing an STP wide patient and public engagement steering group to help shape and improve STP-wide engagement. The STP Dashboard was published in July to provide an initial baseline view of STP performance. Upon publication, Sussex and East Surrey STP were rated in ‘Category 4- Needs Most Improvement’. NHS England intends to update the dashboard annually to enable progress to be tracked, and outcomes to be measured. The STP dashboard can be found here:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/11-pb-21-07-2017-stp-progress-dashboard.pdf STP partners have established a pooled fund to support the work of the STP. The total spend from March 2016 to end of September 2017 was £2,264,000. This figure is inclusive of consultancy and reviews. The Department has not made an assessment of the potential merits of redrawing the geographical scope of the STP – however, NHS England has set out arrangements for STPs to be able to propose an adjustment to their geographical boundaries. The geographical scope and composition of Sussex and East Surrey STP is a matter for its local partners.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether point 2.33 on the use of minimum waits in his Department's Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2012-13 is still Government policy.

Mr Philip Dunne: The NHS Operating Framework for 2012/13 that the Department published in November 2011 is no longer current. NHS Operating Planning and Contracting Guidance for 2017-19 is the current operating guidance. Patients are treated based on clinical assessment of priority. There are two waiting times rights within the NHS Constitution. The first outlines that patients have a right to start consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral for non-urgent conditions. If this is not possible, the clinical commissioning group or NHS England, which commissions and funds treatment, must take all reasonable steps to offer a suitable alternative provider, or if there is more than one, a range of suitable providers, that would be able to see or treat the patient more quickly than the provider to which they were referred. The second is that 93% of patients to have a maximum two week wait from urgent general practitioner referrals where cancer is suspected.

Clinical Commissioning Groups: Staffordshire

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions (a) his Department, (b) NHS England or (c) NHS Improvement have had with the six clinical commissioning groups in Staffordshire regarding merging those groups into one body.

Steve Brine: NHS England has an ongoing relationship with all the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in Staffordshire. With the agreement of NHS England, the Staffordshire CCGs have agreed to the appointment of a joint Accountable Officer (AO), shared by all the CCGs. On 25 October, it was announced that, following a competitive interview process, Marcus Warnes has been appointed to this post. He is currently the AO of North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent CCGs. Marcus Warnes starts his new role from 1 November 2017 for five out of the six CCGs. He will be supported by Tony Bruce who will remain as AO for East Staffordshire CCG until he leaves in March 2018. Marcus Warnes will then take on the role for East Staffordshire CCG. The CCGs are also currently working through a process to bring together a joint executive team. This process is at a relatively early stage. Each CCG will retain its own legal status, ensuring decisions are locally led. The Department and NHS Improvement have not had any direct discussions with CCGs in Staffordshire about merging.

NHS: Reorganisation

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the staffing budget is for 2017-18 for the team overseeing the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Sustainability and Transformation Plan.

Steve Brine: Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STP) are not statutory organisations, and therefore cannot directly employ staff. The vast majority of work conducted within STP areas has therefore been conducted by existing staff from organisations within the STP, sometimes in addition to their duties. Given this, NHS England has advised that the total staff spend of developing the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent STP could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Haywood Hospital

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions (a) NHS England or (b) NHS Improvement have had with (a) North Staffordshire and (b) Stoke-on-Trent Clinical Commissioning Groups on the future of wards at the Haywood Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent.

Steve Brine: Decisions on configuration such as this are best made by the local National Health Service, who can assess how to meet the needs of people in their area. NHS England and NHS Improvement have issued guidance to the system that can help to support local areas in making these decisions. For any significant system reconfiguration, the expectation is that all local parts of the system talk to the public and stakeholders regularly. Furthermore, all significant service change is subject to a full public consultation and proposals must meet the Government’s four reconfiguration tests. These are support from clinical commissioners, clarity on the clinical evidence base, robust patient and public engagement and support for patient choice. There is additional NHS England guidance which means that proposed service reconfigurations should be tested for their impact on overall bed numbers in the area.

NHS: Reorganisation

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the current and projected funding gap are for health and social care in (a) Staffordshire and (b) Stoke-on-Trent for (i) 2017-18, (ii) 2018-19, (iii) 2019-20 and (iv) 2020-21 within the updated local Sustainability and Transformation Plan process.

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the final funding gap was for health and social care in (a) Staffordshire and (b) Stoke-on-Trent for 2016-17 to be included in the updated local Sustainability and Transformation Plan process.

Steve Brine: NHS England advises that the total financial position recorded by healthcare organisations who are members of the Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) in 2016/17 is as below. A number of organisations span the city and county borders and so it is not possible to apportion the financial positions between Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent.  Surplus (Deficit) in 2016/17 (£ million)Providers Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (FT)(10.07)University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust(47.49)South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS FT3.13North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust0.84Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Partnership NHS Trust(28.83)Total for Providers(82.42)  Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) North Staffordshire(4.38)Stoke on Trent(5.67)Stafford and Surrounds(12.66)South East Staffordshire and Seisdon(7.70)Cannock Chase(9.35)East Staffordshire0.00Total for CCGs(39.76)  Total for STP Footprint(122.17) Looking forward, the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent STP forecasts that the health service providers will have the following financial positions in each financial year between 2017 to 2021, both if no action is taken and if the STP is implemented.  2017/18 (£'000)2018/19 (£'000)2019/20 (£'000)2020/21 (£'000)Do Nothing forecast (Deficit)/Surplus(169,268)(212,666)(252,888)(285,402)Do Something forecast (Deficit)/Surplus(119,557)(111,798)(91,300)1,420 The forecast position included the £6 million recurrent deficit due to the integration of Cannock Hospital at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.

NHS: Reorganisation

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the one per cent pay cap on recruitment and retention levels at Cheshire and Merseyside Sustainability and Transformation Plan.

Mr Philip Dunne: National Health Service staff do a fantastic job in tough circumstances, and pay restraint has been challenging for many of them. However, given the financial pressures, it is also true that the NHS would not have been able to recruit an additional 30,400 professionally qualified clinical staff since May 2010 without the cap. No such assessment has been made on recruitment and retention at the local level of the Cheshire and Merseyside Sustainability and Transformation Plan.

Better Care Fund: Stoke On Trent

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timescale is for his Department's Regional Assurance Panel to decide whether to approve Stoke-on-Trent's Better Care Fund plan.

Steve Brine: Strong Better Care Fund (BCF) plans are in everyone’s interest. The regional assurance of BCF plans is a joint process between NHS England and local government, with NHS England having the final decision as part of its Senior Responsible Officer Role. As stipulated in the Integration and Better Care Fund Planning Requirements 2017-19, local areas should submit their BCF plans by 11 September 2017 for regional assurance. Stoke-on-Trent has submitted its BCF plan after the deadline. The BCF plan is now being reviewed by the Regional Assurance Panel. As a next step, the Panel will make a recommendation for Stoke-on-Trent's BCF shortly to the national team. The Integration and BCF Planning Requirements 2017-19 can be found on NHS England’s website:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/integration-better-care-fund-planning-requirements.pdf

Midwives

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many referrals have been made to specialist (a) mental health and (b) substance misuse midwives in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS trust.

Mr Philip Dunne: We do not collect data on where these specialist midwifery posts are in place, so it is not possible to identify how many referrals to them have been made.

Nursing and Midwifery Council: Registration

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many specialist (a) mental health and (b) substance misuse midwives (i) left and (ii) joined the Nursing and Midwifery Council register in each year from 2011 to 2016.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information requested is not held by the Department. The Nursing and Midwifery Council is the independent regulator of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom and is responsible for nurse and midwifery registration.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what financial reports (a) his Department, (b) NHS England and (c) NHS Improvement have received since placing University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust in special measures; and if he will publish those reports in the Library.

Mr Philip Dunne: NHS Improvement is responsible for overseeing foundation trusts and National Health Service trusts and, as part of its remit to support these providers deliver financially sustainable healthcare, will lead on all direct action needed with providers in financial difficulty. This may include placing a provider into special measures for financial reasons as a regulatory measure to bring about swift improvement in challenged NHS providers’ finances. With the help of these measures, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is making progress, and plans to achieve financial balance in 2019-20. All trusts under these measures will provide routine monthly financial reports to NHS Improvement. These are in the public domain and published as part of the Board papers on trusts’ websites. Financial reports on specific trusts in financial special measures are not routinely collected by the Department or NHS England.

Nursing and Midwifery Council: Registration

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many specialist mental health nurses (a) left and (b) joined the Nursing and Midwifery Council register in each year from 2011 to 2016.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information requested is not held by the Department. The Nursing and Midwifery Council is the independent regulator of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom and is responsible for nurse and midwifery registration.

Mental Health Services: Staff

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many mental health staff have been employed in the NHS in each year since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The vast majority of mental health staff are employed by mental health and learning and disability trusts. The table below sets out NHS Digital data on the number of National Health Service staff (Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)) working in mental health and learning disability trusts in each year from July 2013 to July 2017. Figures begin in 2012/13 due to the changes in services resulting from the dissolution of primary care trusts in 2012/13. The figures include all staff employed by mental health and learning and disability trusts, including professionally qualified clinical staff (e.g. doctors, nurses and health visitors and scientific, therapeutic and technical (ST&T) staff) and support to doctors, nurses and midwives, support to ST&T staff, senior managers and managers; central functions and hotel, property and estates staff. Number of NHS staff in Mental Health and Learning Disability Trusts (FTEs)July 2013July 2014July 2015July 2016July 2017162,611163,006162,973164,940166,905  Source: NHS Digital, Monthly workforce statistics as at July: https://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB30100

Psychiatry: Waiting Lists

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time has been for a patient between their GP referral and a consultation with a psychiatrist in the NHS in England in the last six months.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information is not available in the format requested.

Social Services: Pay

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of pay restraint in the public sector on recruitment and retention levels in the social care sector.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department has not made a specific assessment of the effect of the pay restraint in the public sector on recruitment and retention levels in the social care sector, but we continue to monitor the impacts of pay levels on the sector as a whole. The vast majority (c. 90%) of staff work in the independent sector and their pay is set by their employers. Skills for Care collect data on the adult social care workforce within the statutory local authority sector. Data shows the turnover and vacancy rates have increased fairly slowly between 2012 and 2016 of the pay cap. However, pay is only one of the factors that may influence recruitment and retention levels within the adult social care sector.

Social Services: Zero Hours Contracts

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of zero hours contracts on the adequacy of provision of social care.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department has not made a specific assessment of the effect of zero hour contracts on the adequacy of provision of social care. However, we continue to monitor the provision of adult social care. Individual employers are responsible for their own workforce planning, and choosing which employment contracts to offer their employees. Individual employers are responsible for ensuring they have the right number of staff with the right skills, values and behaviours to deliver care.

Mental Health

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will undertake an assessment of the effect of (a) drug and (b) alcohol addiction on people's mental health.

Steve Brine: Public Health England’s (PHEs) alcohol evidence review published last year highlighted the links in the research, including links between alcohol use disorders, depression and bipolar disorder. The review represents England’s most comprehensive look at the evidence on the public health burden of alcohol and policy responses to reduce the health, social and economic harm. The review can be read here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-public-health-burden-of-alcohol-evidence-reviewThe ‘Drug Misuse and Dependence: United Kingdom guidelines on clinical management’, which were updated earlier this year, specifically address co-existing mental health and substance use problems. The guidelines outline how and where services for people with these conditions should be delivered, depending on the severity of the problem:http://www.nta.nhs.uk/guidelines.aspxIn June 2017, PHE published guidance on better care for people with co-occurring mental health and alcohol and drug use conditions. This guidance is aimed at commissioners and providers of mental health and alcohol and drug treatment services and is also suitable for support services that have contact with people with co-occurring conditions:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/625809/Co-occurring_mental_health_and_alcohol_drug_use_conditions.pdf

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the UK.

Steve Brine: Based on United States of America research on prevalence, the National Organisation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome estimates 6,000 – 7,000 children may be born each year with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in the United Kingdom (about 1% of all births). There remain considerable uncertainties on prevalence in the UK and there is currently no available data for Northern Ireland.

Department of Health: Brexit

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's preparations for the UK leaving the EU with (a) an agreement on future partnership and (b) no agreement with the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Government is committed to ensuring leaving the European Union is a success for the health and social care sector as well as the United Kingdom as a whole. All relevant policy teams within the Department are involved with this work in relation to the health and social sector, including assessing the implications of the UK leaving the EU on their area, to help ensure the best outcome for the sector. Every Government department, including the Department of Health, will be proceeding in the only responsible way possible: planning to deliver a smooth exit under any scenario. This includes preparing the UK for the future economic partnership we hope to negotiate with the EU as well as the very unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached and the UK exits without a deal.

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia: Children

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to identify children with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Steve Brine: Public Health England, NHS England, the British Heart Foundation, HEART UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are working in partnership to aid the implementation of recently updated NICE guidance on familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). A cholesterol test is included as part of an NHS Health Check. This provides a key opportunity to identify the first case of FH within a family and, in line with NICE guidance, the subsequent testing of family members including children. The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recommended against a population screening programme in 2016. The UK NSC will review the evidence for FH again in 2018/19 as part of its three-yearly cycle.

NHS Protect

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of the disestablishment of NHS Protect on fraud levels in the NHS.

Mr Philip Dunne: On 1 November 2017 the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA), a new fraud focused special health authority, took over responsibility for tackling fraud and corruption in the health service in England. This responsibility was previously held by NHS Protect, as a division within the NHS Business Services Authority. The NHSCFA has been created as a standalone body to provide the independence required to counter fraud and protect resources intended for patient care. NHSCFA has existed in shadow form since April 2017 alongside NHS Protect to create a smooth transition of counter fraud operations and specialist fraud intelligence, investigation and prevention staff which are transferring to the new counter fraud body. As the single expert, intelligence-led counter fraud organisation for the National Health Service, the NHSCFA will continue, and build on, the work begun by NHS Protect to identify, minimise and pursue fraud within the health service.

Cancer: Finance

Craig Tracey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the Cancer Transformation Funding in 2017-18 has been provided to Cancer Alliances; and whether any remaining funding will be rolled over into the budget for 2018-19 in order to ensure that NHS England meets its cancer strategy funding commitments.

Steve Brine: All Cancer Alliances have a delivery plan in place for the Cancer Taskforce recommendations. £200 million was committed in transformation funding to support Alliances with a particular focus on driving improvements in early diagnosis and quality of life over this and the next financial year. Cancer Alliances are starting to receive Transformation funding in phases over the course of this year based on the readiness of systems to take on the transformation work and the strength of their plans. The full investment in delivering the Cancer Taskforce strategy is set out in the One Year On report, and most recently in the Progress Report for 2016/17 published in October 2017 and is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/national-cancer-transformation-programme-2016-17-progress.pdf

Hospitals: Parking

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospitals in England charge blue badge holders to park.

Mr Philip Dunne: National Health Service car parking data is collected annually and published at: http://hefs.hscic.gov.uk/ERIC.aspThe 2016-17 Estates Return Information Collection figures show that out of 1,043 hospital sites that have designated disabled parking, 132 have indicated that they charge for disabled parking (which includes disabled people, people with temporary disabilities as well as Blue Badge holders). Decisions on car parking provision and charging are taken locally by each trust. The Department published clear guidelines (the car parking principles) for NHS organisations that they are expected to follow. Hospitals should put concessions in place for those who most need help including disabled people, carers and staff who work shifts. The NHS itself is responsible for ensuring that charges are fairly applied. Patients, visitors and staff who have problems with car parking should therefore contact the NHS organisation that runs the car park.

Mental Health Services: Hospital Beds

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on admissions to acute psychiatric inpatient units made under the Mental Health Act 1983 in each year from 2012-13 to 2016-17.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information is not held in the format requested.

Mental Health Services

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the 2016 Adult Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Workforce Census Report.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The 2016 Adult Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Workforce Census Report is currently being verified and analysed by Health Education England. It will be published as soon this has been completed.

Prisoners: Mental Health Services

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of prisoners who are waiting no more than 14 days to be admitted to a secure hospital.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prisoners waited more than 14 days to be transferred to a secure hospital since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Information on how many prisoners waited more than 14 days to be transferred to a secure hospital since 2010 is not available in the format requested. The Prison Transfer and Remission Guidance, published by the Department in 2011, is currently being reviewed by NHS England. The particular focus of this work is on ensuring that the timescales within the Guidance take into account clinical urgency and need.

Prisons: Health Services

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department is making on linking prison health records to community GPs.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England signed a contract on 20 October 2017 for an enhanced IT system for prison clinical records. The Health and Justice Information Service (HJIS) will introduce a similar data-sharing approach to that used in the community when a patient changes their general practitioner (GP). HJIS will enable people in prisons, immigration removal centres and the secure children and young people’s estate (collectively referred to as the “residential estate”) to be registered, via the NHS Spine, with the healthcare service in the residential estate. In future, once the new functionality is deployed, it will be possible for the patient’s clinical records to be transferred from the community for use in the residential estate, and when they leave, for the updated record to be retrieved in the community when they register again with a community GP.

Prisoners: Mental Health Services

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to better identify prisoners who require mental health services.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Basic Custody Screening Tool is an initial questionnaire that is used by the offender management unit within 72 hours of entry into prison and can identify prisoners suitable for referral to mental health services. The information recorded here is not designed to make a clinical assessment of mental health need. New prisoners are also assessed by healthcare staff on their reception into prison in order to ascertain what urgent needs they may have to keep them safe in their first hours in custody. Every prisoner who is screened as requiring further mental health support will then be referred to the mental health team within the establishment. Prisoners also receive a further comprehensive assessment within 72 hours which would prompt further assessments or urgent treatment for any physical health, mental health and/or substance misuse needs. Prisoners will then have a second-stage assessment within seven days of their reception, which will assess their needs in more detail. NHS England is currently working across the entire criminal justice pathway to improve services for offenders with mental health difficulties. In line with the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, and the Strategic Direction for Health and Justice, NHS England is working with partners to intervene at the earliest opportunity to ensure that offenders receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. These specific mental health services will be available to prisoners across the estate where assessment identifies treatment needs.